Specification of Reactive Hardware/Software Systems - Electronic ...

376 Case Study
12.1 Introduction
(Main)
Feeder
Substructure
(Magazine)
Feeder
(Main)
Feeder
Merger
Personalised
Packet
(Gimmik)
Feeder
Side
Line
Wiring
Main
Line
Packer
Control
Station
Foil
Store
Separator
Figure 12.1: A Typical Mailing Machine
This Chapter reports on a case study we are currently carrying out at Buhrs B.V. in
Zaandam. The case study concerns the specification in SHE of the control subsystem
of a new generation of mailing machines. A mailing machine performs the preparation
of products packets to be mailed. Packets in general consist of magazines, newspapers
and direct mail products. A typical example of a (future) mailing machine is shown in
figure 12.1.
The case concerns a typical example of a trend that is currently going on in industry.
Now that the use of electronics within traditional mechanical systems (mechatronics) has
grown quite common, the time is there for a second ’revolution’ in which the additional
introduction of information technology is the key issue. Within the Buhrs company, this
revolution is currently going on. A new generation of mailing machines is developed
from the current generation by the introduction of information technology 1 .
1 This is the reason why the requirements list of Subsection 12.2.2 only addresses additional requirements,
i.e. requirements that do not yet hold for the current generation of mailing machines.
Foil
Printer
Stacker