Knowledge-based control systems

A concept for knowledge-based control systems is presented. The concept integrates conventional control functions with knowledge-based techniques. The basis for the concept is a common object-oriented, multi-view knowledge-base. Operating upon the common knowledge-base are a number of tools for execution of basic control functions, rule-based monitoring and diagnosis, simulation, troubleshooting, etc. The concept is demonstrated on Steritherm, a process for UHT sterilization of liquid food products. A G2 prototype is presented. It contains a dynamic simulation of the process connected to an emulation of the knowledge-based control system including continuous control functions, sequential logic implemented with Grafcet-style sequential flow charts, alarm logics, monitoring rules, model-based fault diagnosis, and troubleshooting fault trees.