Some issues concerning FieldBus design by means of an expert system

The design of computer networks for process control is a complex task which may require a large amount of time. The need to find a good trade-off between various interrelated parameters may mean that it is necessary to revise large parts of the design as a consequence of a choice made at an intermediate stage. In this paper the authors describe their experience gained during the implementation of a tool based on an expert system for the design of a FieldBus based on the FIP standard. As the expert system can incorporate in the system of rules all the details specified by the standard, the designer does not require very detailed knowledge. The paper analyzes problems related to the design of a communication infrastructure for process control and defines the architecture of the expert system. The main rules that need to be inserted for design purposes are also discussed. Use of the FIP standard was suggested by the fact that it is a well-known FieldBus, but the approach described can be applied to other standards by appropriately changing the set of rules so as to adapt them to different protocols and different user requirements. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.