On the Model Continuity in Control Systems Design Using DEVS, UML, and IEC 61499

This paper deals with various ways of design and implementing distributed control systems (DCS). The authors are familiar with the UML language, the DEVS formalism, the IEC 61499 standard, and different tools, such as Node-RED or Power-DEVS. The paper presents the basics of methodology for the design and implementation of control software, which will allow the use of any of these approaches following a conceptual model based on UML. The main reason is to describe the whole development process, from the standard UML models to their implementation, and enable the developers to use modeling or design techniques they are familiar with. The promising way is to apply the model-continuity principle in conjunction with the DEVS formalism, which can be used as a unifying platform for design, and in some cases, as the most appropriate path to implementation. Using DEVS, we get the possibility of directly applying the simulation during the design, thus a more straightforward validation of the proposed system. The DEVS model can also be transformed into alternative implementation models. The considered principles will be demonstrated on a case study of a simple system, Central heating with zone valves.