Leveraging VxWin Technology into Next Generation IndraLogic V Soft PLC
Complete functionality despite cost freeze
When it comes to implementing PC-based control systems, users expect superior functionality and performance teamed with lower overall system costs. The use of additional hardware modules is generally unacceptable. In any case, additional hardware modules are no longer necessary for efficiency because today's PC architectures and processors offer extremely high performance, and open standards essentially guarantee upward compatibility. Moreover, use of a single system with dual OSes increases overall stability, and reduces expenses relating to hardware, energy consumption, and system size and weight.
Cost-effective double system on one processor
With VxWin, Windows XP and VxWorks are run on the same CPU in separate, protected memory areas. VxWorks meets the deterministic real-time requirements of an automation environment, while Windows XP standardizes the connection to the enterprise, and offers both a selection of high-performance graphic interfaces and a variety of Windows applications. The operating systems do not require any proprietary upgrades or modifications, which means that developers can tap into existing know-how and code with ultimate flexibility.
Ease-of-use and real-time response for all control tasks
VxWin unites the real-time operating system, VxWorks, with Windows XP/2000; integrating controls, visualization and connectivity on a single computer. Thanks to the embedded VxWorks, VxWin meets the requirements of a secure standard system, thus ensuring a safe migration. With the same user-friendly development environment, Wind River Tornado or Workbench and Microsoft Visual Studio, and the same interfaces implemented for both systems, developers can apply their existing expertise. The functions of the operating system are also maximized in this respect. Both the drivers for the PC interfaces and the diagnostic tools are the same. Even the standard and familiar debugging is supported.
"What was important was VxWorks' ease of migration, which made it possible to continue using the wide range of functions and at the same time implement visualization and communication", says Norbert Sasse from Bosch Rexroth AG.
Automation solutions demand ultimate reliability from the overall system. This is one reason why users in many applications continue to use dedicated control solutions based on controller-level control hardware. VxWin ensures that VxWorks has higher priority than the administration and displays tasks under Windows so that it can process time-critical tasks. For this reason, Windows is only allocated CPU computing time and resources if no real-time processes or tasks are running under VxWorks. The main memories of Windows and VxWorks are kept strictly separate, and the intensive use of the MMU (Memory Management Unit) means they are also write-protected. This ensures that VxWorks continues to work reliably even when a potential "blue screen of death" is displayed and also that the automation system's programmed responses in the event of a fault, are guaranteed without endangering operator or machine. VxWin provides transparent access to storage media using standardized PC functions. VxWorks and Windows are connected via an internal TCP/IP network, which enables communication between the two operating systems. The controller offers deterministic real-time behavior and guarantees hard real-time capability for the PLC runtime system. At the same time, however, the Windows environment can be used via OPC for tasks such as the visualization and processing of user dialogs.
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