Study guide 2023

Overview

General information

Course code

4TC00

Study load

5 ECTS (140 hours)

Course Type

Bachelor College

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Responsible teacher

D.A. van Beek

Platform

Canvas, MS Teams, website

The course 4TC00 model-based systems engineering treats the entire development process of supervisory controllers, including specification, simulation-based validation and visualization, real-time testing, and code generation. The tooling is based on CIF, an automata-based modelling language for the specification of discrete events, timed, and hybrid systems. In this course students will learn about the basic concepts of the CIF language and how to build a model of a Festo workstation in a team.

Lectures

There will be a kick-off lecture at the start of the course and a few short follow up lectures. Other learning material is available on this website, including video lectures summarizing the main concepts.

The exact schedule, including locations, can be found in the Timetable 2023.

Guided self-study

  • Guided self study is in hybrid form: you can choose between online or on-campus guided self study.

  • You can ask questions during online guided self-study sessions on MS Teams, in the channel that matches your question. One of our TA’s will contact you.

  • You can ask questions outside of the guided self-study sessions, but take in account that it may take longer for a TA to contact you.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student:

  • Has knowledge of the characteristics of model-based systems engineering and understands the role of modelling, validation (simulation and visualization/animation) and implementation in model-based systems engineering.

  • Is capable of developing continuous-time, discrete-event and hybrid models of realistic high-tech systems.

  • Can define and analyze formal models of continuous-time, discrete-event and hybrid models, both by hand and by means of tools.

  • Can apply interactive simulation and visualization for model validation.

  • Can make models of physical components for model based testing of supervisory controllers via an interface of sensors and actuators. The student can analyze a model and is capable of interpreting results in terms of adjustments of the model.

  • Has a clear understanding of the steps that need to be performed to arrive at an implementation of the model in programming code.

  • Can validate generated real-time controllers using 3D digital twins.

  • Can work in a team on shared models using Git repositories.

  • Can apply the instructed design method to a representative case, applying all steps from specification to real-time control of a production line of industrial components (Festo), using supporting computer tools (including CIF).

Course structure

Information phase (week 1-4):

Overview

  • Canvas formation of 2-person and 3-person groups.

  • Modules with concepts of the CIF language.

  • Learn to work with Git, GitKraken, Eclipse, digital twins and TwinCAT for real-time control.

  • Exercises for all course concepts.

  • Graded Canvas quiz for each module.

Modules

The course concepts are split into six modules. In each module, you will master concepts of the modelling language CIF and you will learn to work with Git, GitKraken, Eclipse, digital twins and TwinCAT. Each module has a corresponding canvas quiz to test your knowledge.

Modules consist of:

  • Video lectures

  • Readers on course concepts

  • Manuals on used software

  • Exercises

  • Answers

The exercises are split into two types:

  • Essential: the exercises to understand the basics of the CIF language.

  • Non-essential: the exercises to get a more in depth understanding of the CIF language.

Assignment phase (week 4-10):

  • Midterm assignment: model and simulate small part of a Festo workstation.

  • Final assignment: model, simulate, validate and (optionally) control an actual Festo Workstation.

Exams and grading

Info on exams and grading is in a separate document, click here to continue