Windows Control and the Automation Technology

RSA's CSPRO software system allows for almost any PC compatible computer to become a real-time controller with a multi-PLC system, numeric control of axis, programming environment, and workstation. CSPRO substitutes conventional PLCs and NC/CNC controllers.

Characteristics:

• Open hardware, just a compatible PC.
• Developed in C# under Microsoft Visual Studio's .NET platform.
• Programming and run-time, optionally, in a single PC or separated.
• Connections to all common field buses.
• Interfaces with the support PC.
• The data communication with the user interface and other programs is done through Microsoft's open standards (OPC, OCX, DLL, etc).

 

CSPRO architecture

CSPRO consists of a run-time system which executes control programs in real time, and the development environments for the programming, diagnostic, and configuration.

All Windows programs, for example, the visualization programs or the Office programs, can access CSPRO data through the Microsoft interfaces, or can execute commands.

 

A practically-oriented software

CSPRO offers a precise time base in which the programs are executed in a deterministic way, independently of the other tasks that the processor has to handle. The loading in real time in a PC is configured with CSPRO , thus achieving a defined functional behavior. CSPRO indicates the system load for the executed programs, a load threshold can be adjusted so that a defined computational capacity can be ensured for the operative programs and for Windows NT/2000/XP. If this threshold is reached, a system message is generated.

 

CSPRO performs system diagnosis

The use of hardware and software from the open PC world requires some checking as unsuitable components can upset the PC system. RSA has integrated a practical indicator of the real-time jitter, providing administrators with an easy way to evaluate the hardware and software. A system message during operation can draw attention to incorrect states.

Start/stop behavior

Depending on the settings, CSPRO is started and stopped manually or automatically. Since CSPRO integrates into Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista as a service, an operator is not needed to start the system: switching on the PC is enough.

Restarting and data backup

When a program is started or restarted, CSPRO loads the remanent programs and data. To back up data and to correctly shut down Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista, a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is necessary.

CSPRO and the “Blue Screen of Death”

The CSPRO system can be configured such that real-time capability is maintained in the event of a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) operating system crash. Real-time tasks such as PLC and NC can therefore continue to run and bring the controlled process into a safe state. Ultimately, it is the decision of the programmer whether or not to utilise this feature, bearing in mind that data or programs may already have been destroyed by the BSOD.

World-wide connection through message routing – “remote” connection is inherent to the system

According to the requirements for operating resources, the CSPRO software devices can be distributed: CSPRO PLC programs can run on the PCs or on RSABus Terminal Controllers. A “message router” manages and distributes all the messages, both in the system and via TCP/IP connections. PC systems can be connected with each other via TCP/IP; Bus Terminal Controllers are integrated via serial interfaces and fieldbuses (PROFIBUS DP, CANopen, RS232, RS485, Ethernet TCP/IP).

World-wide access

Since NT/2000/XP/Vista/CE services use the TCP/IP standard, the data can be exchanged around the world. The system offers scalable communication capacities and timeout periods for the supervision of communications. OPC provides a standardised means for accessing many different SCADA/MES/ERP packets.