Final answer:
A Bus Controller (BC) in a Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) is determined by system design, based on its processing capabilities, reliability, and role within the system's data communication protocol. Typically, it is a dedicated hardware unit or selected Remote Terminal with sufficient capacity, following the initialization process taking into account system configuration and tasks' criticality.
Step-by-step explanation:
What Determines the Bus Controller in a Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS)
The role of the Bus Controller (BC) in a Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) is crucial for efficient data communication and control between different devices and subsystems. The Bus Controller is part of a data communication protocol, most notably the MIL-STD-1553 standard used primarily in military avionics.
The BC manages the information exchange over the data bus, ensuring that messages are sent and received appropriately among the devices, called Remote Terminals (RTs), and the system's interface, the Bus Monitor (BM).
The assignment of the Bus Controller is based on the specific requirements and protocols of the FMS. Typically, it is determined by the system design, where the BC is selected to have the required processing abilities and reliability to handle the data traffic. In some cases, the BC can be a dedicated hardware unit designed solely for this purpose, or it can be a role assigned to one of the RTs, depending on its capability and criticality within the system.
In practice, the bus controller is chosen through a system initialization process where certain conditions such as system configuration, criticality of tasks, and redundancy requirements are assessed. The BC must be able to manage priority data messages, handle possible data collisions, and ensure real-time communication is maintained.
System designers often set specific parameters that the chosen BC must satisfy to maintain optimal system performance and reliability. Understanding these principles is important for those studying systems engineering, particularly in industries where FMS are widely used, such as aerospace, defense, and manufacturing.