Instruments and Control
VŠB-TU Ostrava, 6.5.2003
| Annotation of paper No. 30 |
|---|
| Title: | Internet Based HMI in Low-cost Simulators |
| Author(s): | TAMÁŠ, Jan, KLIMÁNEK, David & ŠULC, Bohumil |
| Text: | Low-cost simulators are a new trend in the area of operator training. They are based on engineering simulation, which has become an important, intensively developing field of system simulation with a wide range of industrial applications. This contribution describes experience gained during implementation and current enhancement of an Operator Training Simulator (OTS) of a coal-fired power plant. The simulator is based on a complex model of the plant developed in Matlab, which is connected to an InTouch control panel used in the real plant by the plant personnel. Using existing equipment, software and infrastructure, this solution proves to be very cost-effective, while at the same time providing the same functionality that a complex simulator would. With the ever-continuing spread of the Internet, it becomes natural to enhance the functionality of the simulators by allowing remoter users to connect to them via Internet. Latest development of the simulator thus focuses on implementation of a standardized Internet interface between the simulator and the trained personnel. Web services have been chosen as the architecture for this enhancement, even though using the built-in possibilities of the InTouch software have not been completely ruled out. Further research needs to be done to allow the final decision on the architecture and its implementation to be made. The research work has been supported by the grant No. 02/01/1347 of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic. |