Task decomposition methodology for the design of a coal mining automation hierarchical real-time control system

A systematic approach to hierarchical task decomposition and planning is described. The application of this task decomposition methodology is illustrated through the design of a coal mining automation hierarchical real-time control system. The mining automation standard reference model adapts the National Institute of Standards and Technology´s real-time control system (RCS) architecture to coal mining. The key issues of the task decomposition function of RCS are addressed. The overall control architecture developed is generic and can therefore be applied to any mining operation. The emphasis is placed on Joy CM continuous mining machines. A guideline involving software modularity and subsystem autonomy, the system´s operation, the environment, the computing technology (both hardware and software), etc., is presented in the context of the development of the system´s functional hierarchy. The guideline also establishes the functional requirements for each subsystem and each level. State transition diagrams are employed to define plans that use the task commands (including constraints) developed through the RCS task decomposition methodology