Migrating Scilab/Scicos to Embedded System

Zhe Peng, Long-hua Ma, Zhejiang Univ. P.R.China

Project proposal

I prospect the porting of the full Scilab/Scicos and relatives tools (Scicos-HIL, Scicos-RTAI, etc.)to a stand alone Embedded System. The aim is to realize complex control and optimization functions:

·          Off line and in line identification.

·          Auto tuning.

·          Robust control.

·          Fail detection.

·          Fuzzy control.

For industrial applications:

·          MPC in chemical engineering area.

·          Mechatronics and robotics

·          Motor control.

·          Advanced Instrument

·          Equip Special Controller Unit

The motivations

Traditional PLC can't be competent for the aim. Now the Industrial Computer (IPC) is gain popularity, but IPC isn’t a good choice for volume (space requirements), power consumption and power dissipation, extended temperature applications, price, and convenience. In these situations, a full custom Embedded System will hit the mark. Besides implementing these functions, I also suppose to make it easier for people who developing the control system. If only we want to implement a control system for one object, we may have to write code from zero, with C/C++ so on, after you developing many such systems, you can find that you have done much repeated work.

The scenario

Suppose to have a with full, ready Embedded System (Linux + Scilab/Scicos + ToolBoxes): if you want to develop your own control system, you just need to use Scilab/Scicos in your PC, and download the sources files to the Embedded System. Then the system will run implementing exactly your aim.

I think that this can reduce dramatically the developing time and the associated costs.

The know how

We already evaluated several embedded platforms (ARM including FPU, ARM+DSP, PowerPC + DSP, etc.) and we have found a couple of reasonable solutions.

We have some experience in Scilab/Scicos (I won first prize of 2006 China Scilab Contest, SciSCADA Toolbox) and industrial application software development (serial and Ethernet protocol for embedded system, Modbus RTU, Modbus Ethernet Protocol, OPC Protocol). OPC Toolbox is used by ABB Co. Engineering now, and Modbus Ethernet Protocol Toolbox is used in a power plant in China.

What will I do ?

·          Formal definition of hardware and software for the Embedded System for running Scilab/Scicos. We plan to buy low cost OEM board to reduce the system developing time.

·          Migrating Linux / Linux RTAI kernel and GUI supporting X11 to target board.

·          Modularize and port the Scilab/Scicos software to the Embedded System.

·          Develop drivers such as Serial and Ethernet protocol for embedded system.

·          Implement control algorithms, and testing the board and Scilab/Scicos efficiency.

·          Evaluate soft and hard (Linux-RTAI) real time technology.

Conclusion

The project can lead Scilab/Scicos to embedded system area, and this can expand Scilab/Scicos engineering applications. Wish more and more person using Scilab/Scicos in Industrial Engineering! And wish this project success!