Modeling Interaction Patterns for Distributed Systems with IEC 61499

Peter Herrmann; Alois Zoitl

doi:10.1109/ETFA65518.2025.11205734

Modeling Interaction Patterns for Distributed Systems with IEC 61499

Peter Herrmann^*
, Alois Zoitl^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

LIT Cyber-Physical Systems Lab

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceedings › peer-review

Abstract

IEC 61499 is a proven technique for the model-based engineering of factory automation systems. Due to recent developments in this field like Industry 4.0, however, modern systems rely more and more on distributed computer technology. In this article, we investigate if and to which degree IEC 61499 together with IEC 61131-3 Structured Text as the algorithm implementation language is suited to also model the behavior of these amended systems. To achieve that, we selected three relevant use cases, i.e., mixed initiative mitigation, free-pool, and heartbeat, and exemplarily implemented each of them. This allowed us to get insight about what can be conveniently specified using IEC 61499 and for what an extension of the modeling technique is recommended. In this paper, we introduce the models for the three use cases and report the lessons learned from their implementation. Based on that, we suggest enhancements to IEC 61499.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2025 IEEE 30th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA)
Editors	Luis Almeida, Marina Indria, Mario de Sousa, Antonio Visioli, Mohammad Ashjaei, Pedro Santos
Publisher	IEEE
Pages	1-8
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Electronic)	9798331553838
ISBN (Print)	979-8-3315-5384-5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ETFA65518.2025.11205734
Publication status	Published - 21 Oct 2025
Event	2025 IEEE 30th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA) - Porto, Portugal Duration: 09 Sept 2025 → 12 Sept 2025

Publication series

Name	IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA
ISSN (Print)	1946-0740
ISSN (Electronic)	1946-0759

Conference

Conference	2025 IEEE 30th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA)
Period	09.09.2025 → 12.09.2025

Fields of science

202003 Automation
102022 Software development
202017 Embedded systems
202041 Computer engineering
102029 Practical computer science
102025 Distributed systems
102 Computer Sciences

JKU Focus areas

Digital Transformation

Access to Document

10.1109/ETFA65518.2025.11205734

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=11205734

Cite this

Herrmann, P., & Zoitl, A. (2025). Modeling Interaction Patterns for Distributed Systems with IEC 61499. In L. Almeida, M. Indria, M. de Sousa, A. Visioli, M. Ashjaei, & P. Santos (Eds.), 2025 IEEE 30th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA) (pp. 1-8). Article 11205734 (IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ETFA65518.2025.11205734

Herrmann, Peter ; Zoitl, Alois. / Modeling Interaction Patterns for Distributed Systems with IEC 61499. 2025 IEEE 30th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA). editor / Luis Almeida ; Marina Indria ; Mario de Sousa ; Antonio Visioli ; Mohammad Ashjaei ; Pedro Santos. IEEE, 2025. pp. 1-8 (IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA).

@inproceedings{fa15def84dde486cb017d356364ffe1c,

title = "Modeling Interaction Patterns for Distributed Systems with IEC 61499",

abstract = "IEC 61499 is a proven technique for the model-based engineering of factory automation systems. Due to recent developments in this field like Industry 4.0, however, modern systems rely more and more on distributed computer technology. In this article, we investigate if and to which degree IEC 61499 together with IEC 61131-3 Structured Text as the algorithm implementation language is suited to also model the behavior of these amended systems. To achieve that, we selected three relevant use cases, i.e., mixed initiative mitigation, free-pool, and heartbeat, and exemplarily implemented each of them. This allowed us to get insight about what can be conveniently specified using IEC 61499 and for what an extension of the modeling technique is recommended. In this paper, we introduce the models for the three use cases and report the lessons learned from their implementation. Based on that, we suggest enhancements to IEC 61499.",

keywords = "Upper bound, Heart beat, Prevention and mitigation, Computational modeling, Dynamic scheduling, Libraries, Fourth Industrial Revolution, Resource management, IEC Standards, Manufacturing automation",

author = "Peter Herrmann and Alois Zoitl",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

day = "21",

doi = "10.1109/ETFA65518.2025.11205734",

language = "English",

isbn = "979-8-3315-5384-5",

series = "IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA",

publisher = "IEEE",

pages = "1--8",

editor = "Luis Almeida and Marina Indria and \{de Sousa\}, Mario and Antonio Visioli and Mohammad Ashjaei and Pedro Santos",

booktitle = "2025 IEEE 30th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA)",

note = "2025 IEEE 30th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA) ; Conference date: 09-09-2025 Through 12-09-2025",

}

Herrmann, P & Zoitl, A 2025, Modeling Interaction Patterns for Distributed Systems with IEC 61499. in L Almeida, M Indria, M de Sousa, A Visioli, M Ashjaei & P Santos (eds), 2025 IEEE 30th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA)., 11205734, IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA, IEEE, pp. 1-8, 2025 IEEE 30th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA), 09.09.2025. https://doi.org/10.1109/ETFA65518.2025.11205734

Modeling Interaction Patterns for Distributed Systems with IEC 61499. / Herrmann, Peter; Zoitl, Alois.
2025 IEEE 30th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA). ed. / Luis Almeida; Marina Indria; Mario de Sousa; Antonio Visioli; Mohammad Ashjaei; Pedro Santos. IEEE, 2025. p. 1-8 11205734 (IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceedings › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Modeling Interaction Patterns for Distributed Systems with IEC 61499

AU - Herrmann, Peter

AU - Zoitl, Alois

PY - 2025/10/21

Y1 - 2025/10/21

N2 - IEC 61499 is a proven technique for the model-based engineering of factory automation systems. Due to recent developments in this field like Industry 4.0, however, modern systems rely more and more on distributed computer technology. In this article, we investigate if and to which degree IEC 61499 together with IEC 61131-3 Structured Text as the algorithm implementation language is suited to also model the behavior of these amended systems. To achieve that, we selected three relevant use cases, i.e., mixed initiative mitigation, free-pool, and heartbeat, and exemplarily implemented each of them. This allowed us to get insight about what can be conveniently specified using IEC 61499 and for what an extension of the modeling technique is recommended. In this paper, we introduce the models for the three use cases and report the lessons learned from their implementation. Based on that, we suggest enhancements to IEC 61499.

AB - IEC 61499 is a proven technique for the model-based engineering of factory automation systems. Due to recent developments in this field like Industry 4.0, however, modern systems rely more and more on distributed computer technology. In this article, we investigate if and to which degree IEC 61499 together with IEC 61131-3 Structured Text as the algorithm implementation language is suited to also model the behavior of these amended systems. To achieve that, we selected three relevant use cases, i.e., mixed initiative mitigation, free-pool, and heartbeat, and exemplarily implemented each of them. This allowed us to get insight about what can be conveniently specified using IEC 61499 and for what an extension of the modeling technique is recommended. In this paper, we introduce the models for the three use cases and report the lessons learned from their implementation. Based on that, we suggest enhancements to IEC 61499.

KW - Upper bound

KW - Heart beat

KW - Prevention and mitigation

KW - Computational modeling

KW - Dynamic scheduling

KW - Libraries

KW - Fourth Industrial Revolution

KW - Resource management

KW - IEC Standards

KW - Manufacturing automation

UR - https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11205734/

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105021827264

U2 - 10.1109/ETFA65518.2025.11205734

DO - 10.1109/ETFA65518.2025.11205734

M3 - Conference proceedings

SN - 979-8-3315-5384-5

T3 - IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA

SP - 1

EP - 8

BT - 2025 IEEE 30th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA)

A2 - Almeida, Luis

A2 - Indria, Marina

A2 - de Sousa, Mario

A2 - Visioli, Antonio

A2 - Ashjaei, Mohammad

A2 - Santos, Pedro

PB - IEEE

T2 - 2025 IEEE 30th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA)

Y2 - 9 September 2025 through 12 September 2025

ER -

Herrmann P, Zoitl A. Modeling Interaction Patterns for Distributed Systems with IEC 61499. In Almeida L, Indria M, de Sousa M, Visioli A, Ashjaei M, Santos P, editors, 2025 IEEE 30th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA). IEEE. 2025. p. 1-8. 11205734. (IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA). doi: 10.1109/ETFA65518.2025.11205734

Modeling Interaction Patterns for Distributed Systems with IEC 61499

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Fields of science

JKU Focus areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Christian Doppler Laboratory for Mastering Variability in Software-intensive Cyber-physical Production Systems (CDL VaSiCS)

Cite this

Modeling Interaction Patterns for Distributed Systems with IEC 61499

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Fields of science

JKU Focus areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Projects

Christian Doppler Laboratory for Mastering Variability in Software-intensive Cyber-physical Production Systems (CDL VaSiCS)

Cite this