Complexity issues in control software design: A practical perspective

There is a tendency to overlook or play down software issues in industrial systems design. However the very best hardware will only be as effective as the programs that control it. The search for a software solution to a problem should not stop with the discovery of the first approach that works, or appears to work. Many problems support good and bad methods of solution and determining the best often requires deeper consideration. In this paper we present some rudimentary introductions and examples of common computational challenges. We aim to highlight key issues for consideration when implementing control systems which otherwise might be unintentionally overlooked.