Tool support for an automatic transformation of GRAFCET specifications into IEC 61131-3 control code

Abstract

GRAphe Fonctionnel de Commande Etape Transition (GRAFCET) is a powerful graphical modeling language for the specification of discrete event systems and an international standard since 1988. Since GRAFCET is a specification language and not a programming language, a GRAFCET specification (Grafcet) still has to be interpreted manually, e.g. as a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) program according to IEC 61131-3. For this reason, the authors subsequently present a tool prototype, which allows the development of a Grafcet according to IEC 60848 definitions and additionally offers the opportunity to automatically generate IEC 61131-3 compliant control code. To facilitate tool integration into industrial applications, the prototype is based on a widely-used office software.