Smart Digital Valve Control Smart Digital Valve Control SimulatorSimulator

May 01-11May 01-11

April 25, 2001April 25, 2001Client:Client: Fisher Controls Intl. Inc.

Contacts:Contacts: Patrick Ryan and Jeff Seyller

Faculty Advisor:Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jacobson

Team MembersTeam MembersChad JanovickTy HartwickMike Ziller

Brian Kierzek

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline Problem Statement Design Objectives Functional Requirements End-Product Description Assumptions and Limitations Project Risks and Concerns Technical Approach Evaluation of Project Success Recommendations for Further Work Human and Financial Budgets Lessons/Skills Learned Summary Demonstration Questions

Problem Statement and Problem Statement and SolutionSolution

Fisher Controls needs the ability to simulate Digital Valve Controllers (DVCs) due to the physical and financial impossibility of testing Valvelink® software with large networks of DVCs.

Problem Statement and Problem Statement and Solution ( cont )Solution ( cont )

The goal of this project is to develop, HARTSim, a Windows based application capable of simulating communication between Valvelink® and a network of virtual devices.

Users and UsesUsers and Uses UsersUsers

– Software Development EngineersSoftware Development Engineers– Software Test EngineersSoftware Test Engineers– Technical Support StaffTechnical Support Staff– Sales RepresentativesSales Representatives

UsesUses– Development and testing of ValvelinkDevelopment and testing of Valvelink®®

– TroubleshootingTroubleshooting– Showing capabilities of ValvelinkShowing capabilities of Valvelink®® to customers to customers

Design ObjectivesDesign Objectives

Communicate with Valvelink® via a serial port through the use of industry standard Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) protocol.

Build a set of virtual devices capable of understanding and creating HART messages.

Allow user configuration of device characteristics. Provide a intuitive graphical user interface.

Design ConstraintsDesign Constraints

Windows 9X/NT restraintsWindows 9X/NT restraintsVisual C++ restraintsVisual C++ restraintsSerial communication restraintsSerial communication restraintsExpandable/Open-ended formatExpandable/Open-ended formatNeed for intuitive interfaceNeed for intuitive interface

Functional RequirementsFunctional Requirements

• Network Tree PaneNetwork Tree Pane• Device Properties Pop-Up PaneDevice Properties Pop-Up Pane• Communication Log PaneCommunication Log Pane• Status PaneStatus Pane• Communication Module (Router Logic)Communication Module (Router Logic)• Virtual DeviceVirtual Device

Network Tree PaneNetwork Tree PaneThis pane allows the user to configure, start, and stop a simulation; drag, drop, and delete devices; and open a device properties page.

Device Properties DialogDevice Properties DialogThis pane will allow the user to view and configure variables and their values for a specific devices.

Communication Log Pane and Status PaneCommunication Log Pane and Status Pane

The Communication Log Pane will list all HART commands that go over the line. The Status Pane will display the number of messages sent and received, and an LED will light if there is activity on the line.

User InterfaceUser Interface

Communication ModuleCommunication Module(Router Logic)(Router Logic)

Receives packets from ValvelinkReceives packets from Valvelink®®

Creates application friendly HART packetsCreates application friendly HART packets Routes packets to correct virtual deviceRoutes packets to correct virtual device Packages responsePackages response Sends packets to ValvelinkSends packets to Valvelink®®

Incoming FSM Routing

LogicOutgoing

FSM

Virtual

Device

Serial

Port

Virtual DevicesVirtual Devices

Interprets HART packetsInterprets HART packets– Looks in packet for command number and any dataLooks in packet for command number and any data

Creates response for Communication ModuleCreates response for Communication Module– Uses command number and data to create a response packetUses command number and data to create a response packet

Preamble Start Ch. Address Command Byte Count [Status] [Data] Checksum

Virtual Device InheritanceVirtual Device Inheritance

Virtual Device

Virtual MUX Virtual DVC

Virtual DVC5000

Virtual DVC6000

Virtual MUX A

Virtual MUX B

Device Archive Device Archive (Not Implemented)(Not Implemented)

Object serialization system– Uses Microsoft Foundation Classes’ (MFC) object serialization

methods Saves

– Network configuration– Device properties

End Product DescriptionEnd Product Description

Windows based software packageWindows based software package Intuitive user interfaceIntuitive user interface Capable of emulating DVC 5 & 6000sCapable of emulating DVC 5 & 6000s Communication through the serial port Communication through the serial port

using HART protocolusing HART protocol

Assumptions and LimitationsAssumptions and Limitations

Assumptions:Assumptions: Users are familiar with ValveLink® and HART protocolUsers are familiar with ValveLink® and HART protocol Accurate DVC models can be constructedAccurate DVC models can be constructed Open-ended design will allow for future expansionOpen-ended design will allow for future expansion Software will be easy to set up and useSoftware will be easy to set up and use

Limitations:Limitations: Serial port timing constraintsSerial port timing constraints Software can only be run on Windows based PCsSoftware can only be run on Windows based PCs Semester is not long enough to implement all featuresSemester is not long enough to implement all features

Risks and Risk ManagementRisks and Risk Management

• Loss or damage of master codeLoss or damage of master code-Source Control-Source Control

• Staying within the scope of the projectStaying within the scope of the project-Constant contact with Fisher Controls-Constant contact with Fisher Controls

• Time ManagementTime Management-Weekly team meetings-Weekly team meetings

-Multi-tasking ( split project into sections )-Multi-tasking ( split project into sections )

Technical ApproachTechnical Approach

Visual C++ vs. Visual Basic vs. Java Multi-Threaded Application vs. Single Threaded

Application Use of object inheritance for modular design User interface parallels ValveLink ®®

Evaluation of Project SuccessEvaluation of Project Success(Milestones)(Milestones)

Intuitive user interface (100%)Intuitive user interface (100%)– Easy for user to set up a simulationEasy for user to set up a simulation– User is able to configure devicesUser is able to configure devices

Communications enabled (100%)Communications enabled (100%)– ValveLinkValveLink®® thinks physical devices are attached thinks physical devices are attached

Accurate virtual device simulation (*100%)Accurate virtual device simulation (*100%)– Devices provide correct resultsDevices provide correct results

Application meets the needs of Fisher Application meets the needs of Fisher ControlsControls (100%)

Recommendations for Further Recommendations for Further WorkWork

Serialization for saving configured Serialization for saving configured devices/simulationsdevices/simulations

Multiplexer network capabilitiesMultiplexer network capabilities More detailed device logicMore detailed device logic

-Virtual diagnostic capabilities-Virtual diagnostic capabilities-Mux scanning-Mux scanning

Future device typesFuture device types

Human BudgetHuman Budget

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Estimated Actual

Financial BudgetFinancial Budget

Item Estimated ActualValve Link Software* $3,000 $0

Laptop* $1,000 $0Poster $50 $55

Programming Books $100 $0Visual C++ $99 $0

Totals $4,249 $55

Costs

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Start research as early as possibleStart research as early as possibleTry to inflate time estimatesTry to inflate time estimatesPrioritize tasksPrioritize tasksMaintain contact with the clientMaintain contact with the clientTake more time to familiarize ourselves Take more time to familiarize ourselves

with Visual C++with Visual C++

Developed SkillsDeveloped Skills

Technical SkillsTechnical Skills-Visual C++ (coding skills improved immensely) -Visual C++ (coding skills improved immensely)

-HART protocol -HART protocol

-Serialization techniques-Serialization techniques

-Working with technical documentation-Working with technical documentation

Non-Technical SkillsNon-Technical Skills-Interaction with professional clients-Interaction with professional clients

-Team meeting utilization-Team meeting utilization

-Documentation techniques-Documentation techniques

SummarySummary

HART COMMUNICATION

ValveLink® Software HARTSim Software

QuestionsQuestions