Introduction
I worked as the control software engineer for the MoorMaster NxG automatic mooring system for a little more than a year. I was mainly responsible for developing the MoorMaster NxG unit controller software especially the communication and system admin functions.
Hardware and software involved in this application are:
- Software:
- Automation Studio
- Git
- SVN
- Ignition
- Hardware:
- B&R X90 Mobile Controller
- Mikrotik Switches
- Contrologix
- Compactlogix
- Anybus Gateways
Site Photo
Challenges
This was the first time that I worked with the PC based automation systems so my mindset was challenged at the beginning. I needed to manage special resources like Ethernet/IP communicatoin drivers to provide redundant Ethernet/IP communications that the product needed on site. The system administrator functions like MpRecipe has a different approach in terms of implementation and I was challenged at the beginning, too.
Meanwhile, to fully implement version control and manage the defferent production source on site was a huge challange.
Solutions
- Special developed Ethernet/IP communication function worked nicely on site.
- Re-developed the Admin functions that significantly improved the products’ stability.
- Implemented build information in the production source so there is no risk losing track of the source version.
- Deveoped batch production source update and configuration update scripts that can be integrated to the version control process using Git hooks.