Carr, Scott (2024) Investigation of Web-Based Technologies in the Development of Full-Stack, Small to Mid-Sized Distributed Industrial Control Systems. [USQ Project]
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Abstract
Distributed Industrial Control Systems employ networks to connect distant controllers and allow seamless integrated control and monitoring of processes. Two critical aspects of these systems are their horizontal functionality, with communications based on real-time control, and secondly their respective network design to achieve this (Selisteanu, Roman, Sendrescu, Petre & Popa 2018). The majority of these systems are fully proprietary and come with high purchase costs, with large-scale systems reaching into the tens of millions of dollars.
Comparatively, improvements in low-cost, embedded controller performance have seen these devices gain more widespread use for a range of applications. As these systems improve, low-cost does not have to be synonymous with low-reliability, or low-functionality. A body of research currently exists in which embedded systems have been used for developing remote data systems. An area that is understated in such research is in the application of connected embedded systems to form distributed control and data networks.
This dissertation shows that embedded systems, in conjunction with web-based programming languages, can be used to deliver a reliable distributed control network. Such a network can be developed to offer real-time communication with data storage and visualisation capabilities. The developed system demonstrated how simplified and customisable integration of sensors could be achieved with interfacing, data processing and storage software which had the capability to be expanded for large numbers of distributed sensors across a network.
By developing NodeJS applications in conjunction with a WebSockets Protocol communication network, a single Server, dual Client architecture was built, capable of fast, customised communication and control. The system displayed how specific time thresholds could be met and monitored, through use of watchdog and time-stamping applications and also provided data management through a connected server database system. This project also documented approaches to manage time-dependent operations using webbased, event-driven, software callback methods. These outcomes were important to demonstrate the potential for a differing approach to control system development. They confirmed that by using open-source, web-based programming languages and runtimes, architectures can be developed which allow realtime constraints to be managed all while simplifying system integration. In doing so, such systems could offer a high level of reliability in operation and be looked upon to potentially replace legacy devices which have been slower to adapt in software terms.
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| Item Type: | USQ Project |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Engineering (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Leis, John |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Instrumentation and Control) |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Oct 2025 01:25 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Oct 2025 01:25 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | embedded systems; control network; web-based programming |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/53023 |
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