Expert Control System Shell Version 1.0 User

Published

January 1, 1995

Author(s)

Steve Osella

Abstract

The Expert Control System Shell (ECSS)is a software program running on a Macintosh computer which permits the rapid prototyping of control system architectures and strategies. The ECSS consists of a user interface development tool, a rule-based expert system, an integrated text editor, a data-logging and playback facility, and a generic external device interface. The user-interface permits the design of graphical controls which are either actuators (push-usa-buttons, toggles, and slider-control, etc.) or displays (LEDs, strip-charts, dials, etc.). The actuators can be manipulated directly by the operator, by the knowledge-base system, or both. A display can be directly linked to an external device, can be set by the expert system, or can be a calculated value from other actuators and/or displays. The rule-based expert system facility permits the creation of concurrently operating control modules which can synchronize their activity using message passing. The expert system is forward-chaining and is driven by operator actions, external events, and/or by messages from other control modules. Control modules can make function calls to external C language routines, which could be, for example, a PID control function. The ECSS permits the logging of all control values and the subsequent play back using a remote control graphical device.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 5601

Report Number

5601

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.5601

Keywords

control systems, expert systems, multi-agent systems, real-time systems

Citation

Osella, S. (1995), Expert Control System Shell Version 1.0 User, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.5601 (Accessed October 17, 2025)