Control Engineers Workbench, A Methodology for Microcomputer Implementation of Controls

The concept of the Control Engineers Workbench is discussed, and the Control Engineers Workbench is defined as a set of software tools which are integrated to assist with the implementation of real time control systems. The control system is assumed to consist both of analog and microcomputer electronics (which in part may reside in VLSI silicon). The workbench therefore supports most importantly the software engineering activities. The basis for the Control Engineers Workbench is established and a methodology based upon the concept of a design environment is proposed. Within the environment two key tools are introduced: information management of the requirements documentation and the use of a state language (1) to describe the high-level hardware/software architecture.