When commissioning a new system it is typically necessary to match individual software modules of the programmable logic controller (PLC) to the specific requirements of the product and the production sequence. Yet what effect does changing a single software sequence have on the overall quality of the control program? In the research project a metric (a mathematical function) was developed that enables complex software changes to be evaluated using a simple traffic-light principle.
This allows an analysis of existing system software following adaptations and change processes, quickly and reliably. With this tool teamtechnik aims to obtain objective parameters for software quality evaluation.
‘Together with the Institute of Automation and Information Systems at TU Munich we have further optimized in-house software development processes at teamtechnik. This gives our customers dependable system software that delivers absolute reliability even in the regulated environment of automation,’ says Dr. Matthias Bengel, Vice President, R+D Software.
Cooperation has been ongoing between teamtechnik and the Institute of Automation and Information Systems at TU Munich for a number of years. The outcomes of the current research project are published under the heading ‘Development and evaluation of a metric for determining the maturity of compliant control software’.
