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TrackML

TrackML®

Object-oriented MakeUp Language for Tracking


TrackML® was developed by Xispek for universal PLC programming of inspection systems. With TrackML® technology, engineers can easily program every inspection system without any knowledge of traditional PLC programming, such as Siemens' TIA Portal or Rockwell's RSLogix. As part of the XispVision inspection platform, TrackML® plays an important role in Xispek's "one software platform for all inspection systems" strategy. It implements a common middle layer to interpret control logic that is completely independent of the PLC brand.


TrackML Configuration:

No PLC knowledge required
Easy to learn, configuration instead of programming
Object-oriented logic
No errors

Traditional PLC Programming:

Different brands and programming systems
High demand for programmers and high labor costs
Unavoidable program errors and difficult program management

Three-ply structure

TrackML implements an object-oriented programming model with a three-layer system structure: application layer, intermediate layer, and execution layer.TrackML defines a make-up language specifically for tracking objects in an inspection system. The middle layer describes the application program in TrackML in a manner similar to the way a natural person thinks. With the TrackML interpreter, the PLC will execute the desired logic.



Application layer

The first step is to understand the task or job that we want to accomplish with the detection system. That is, describe the task or job in a natural way. For example, the figure below shows a typical scenario for a detection system. The job can be described as follows:


Trigger sensor detects bottle inflow


After 100 mm from the trigger signal, the blowing nozzle should be activated

After 300 mm from the trigger signal, the camera should be triggered to take a picture

After 500 mm from the trigger signal, the actuator shall reject the bottle if it is recognized as "NOK"; if it is recognized as "OK", the actuator shall do nothing



The control logic can be fully described and defined in just four simple steps. trackML only needs to define the logic for one bottle. During production, the controller automatically understands the operation of all bottles in the line. In this way, the PLC assigned to the bottle is used to describe the process without any attention being paid to the PLC system itself.


Using TrackML's middle layer

The application layer describes processes in a natural way that is easily understood by humans. In order for the PLC to operate as required, this description needs to be translated into a way that the PLC can understand. This is what TrackML is designed to do, defining processes in XML format and in an object-oriented manner. In the example above, the TrackML program is shown below.

To make programming easier, the HMI provides a graphical design that makes configuration and programming very simple. The following figure shows a graphical demonstration of the same program.


Execution layer: XispAutomation®

Humans describe tasks and jobs. The technician configures the task in a way that the PLC can understand. The final step is to get the PLC to execute the control logic required for the task. xispek has developed the XispAutomation system for this purpose. XispAutomation allows the execution of any TrackML program. XispAutomation is implemented in C++ instead of other PLC programming languages, providing a high degree of flexibility. For the end-user, XispAutomation hides the details of the execution and the knowledge of the PLC, allowing the user to concentrate 100% on the task itself.


TrackML® Advantage

As a general-purpose makeup language designed for tracking, it enables low-code and no-code implementations of tracking systems. It offers the following advantages:


Single solution for all inspection devices
Describing or configuring tracking tasks instead of programming
Description of the measures that should be taken for only one object and not for all products in the production line
No knowledge of PLC programming is required
Easy to learn, create error-free TrackML programs in 5 minutes
Uses the same PLC program on all inspection machines
Suitable for typical assembly lines, straight lines, rotating lines
Suitable for long distance tracking
Track diagnostics for troubleshooting
Dynamic IO ports, freely definable
Expandable control library for machine control
Realization of standard communication interfaces