Configuration of SoA-based devices in virtual production cells

The field of factory automation has been the target of many recent research efforts related to improving overall efficiency and reconfigurability in order to effectively enable the advent of mass customisation. These efforts have promoted the adoption of autonomous, loosely-coupled devices aimed at simplifying the integration of modular production cells, as well as new production control methodologies which aim to bring efficiency, agility and quick turnaround to the production process. As these new production paradigms start to trickle down to the factory floor, a new set of tools must be developed in order to support their implementation. Recent advances in computing power and functionality from the past decades have opened up the opportunity to not only improve the processing capabilities within control devices but to implement engineering tools which will support the systems engineers in building the modular production floor. This paper presents the development of such a tool which facilitates the implementation of said devices, and their functionalities which aim to simplify the configuration and layout of modular, service-oriented devices in a virtual production line. The tool can then be used as a simulation platform in order to test out different layouts and production processes.