TRANSFER LINE CONTROL SYSTEM UTILIZING DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING

Disclosed is a method and apparatus which provide control over industrial operations utilizing sequential processes. The invention focusses particularly upon machine transfer line operations in which milling, drilling, boring, and other machining processes are performed upon a work piece on a transfer line according to predetermined sequences of operations. The invention utilizes a sequential, integrated motion and process logic educator (SIMPLE) controller based on an IBM personal computer platform located at each workstation and at the transfer driver workstation. Intelligent monitoring of the operations of processes defined as a sequence of actuations is achieved with networked SIMPLE controllers wherein distributed computing is provided at the various workstations which comprise the transfer line. Distributed computing and a system of interlocks for use with a sequential program sufficiently narrows the scope of operations at each workstation to a manageable level. The interlocks ensure the safe and efficient operation of the any sequential industrial process, even when a workstation is randomly operated in a manual mode. Animation of workstation operations provides the user with an inherent user interface and also provides self documentation.