PACFramework
PAC Framework V1
Framework for Developing Industrial Controller Software (PLC/PAC)
Introduction
PACFramework is an integrated set of rules, recommendations, data structures, and software elements designed for developing application software for programmable devices such as industrial controllers (PLC/PAC), though not limited to them.
PACFramework (hereinafter “PFw”) has been developed considering typical control system requirements, modern international standards (ISA, IEC, ISO), and trends (Industry 4.0, IIoT). PFw enables rapid development of software for PLC/PAC and SCADA/HMI within industrial automation and control systems (IACS), providing functionality suitable for all types of processes and production: continuous, discrete, and batch. The framework can be used with any programmable devices intended for control and automation.
Purpose:
- To accelerate development:
- Ready-to-use software constructs with built-in functionality (typical requirements)
- Possibility to automate routine tasks (PFwTools)
- To reduce errors, provided the framework’s software blocks are debugged (integrator version):
- Pre-debugged software constructs
- Validated approaches
- Reduced human error during automated deployment (PFwTools)
- To formalize and standardize concepts:
- For clearer team and customer communication (e.g., mode and state handling cases)
- To standardize code, which is necessary for:
- Easier collaboration on a single project
- Simpler maintenance (including by the customer)
- Easier replication across projects
- Easier integration with other systems
- Deployment automation
- Potential future standardization at the customer level
Properties:
- Open
- Platform-independent (can be implemented on most modern PLC/PAC platforms)
- Extensible
- Suitable for large-scale (thousands of I/O) and medium-scale (tens to hundreds of I/O) projects
- Library available for various platforms:
- Unity PRO/Control Expert
- TIA Portal (S7-1200/1500, S7-300)
- CodeSYS (under development)
- Designed for optimal resource utilization
- Based on best practices (drawing on ideas from other standards and “frameworks”)
- Based on ISA standards:
- ISA-88 (Batch Control, IEC 61512)
- ISA-101 (HMI)
- ISA-18.2 (Alarm Management)
- Genetically designed for integration with upper-level MES/MOM systems (ISA-88/95)
- Continuously evolving and improving, with work ongoing on a new version
Currently, a new version, PFw2, is under development, addressing structural limitations and shortcomings of the first version.
This repository:
- contains a description of the framework
- includes implementation libraries for selected platforms
- provides links to related projects based on the framework
- Core Concepts
- Control Modules (CM)
- Equipment Modules (EM)
- Procedural Control
- HMI (Human-Machine Interface) System Standards]
- Recommendations for Implementing PAC Framework on New PLC/PAC Platforms
- Available Implementations