Introduction of an Assistant for Low-Code Programming of Hydraulic Components in Mobile Machines

The increasing functionality of automation software in complex mechatronic systems such as construction machinery is a major challenge for companies to remain competitive. A major difficulty is that the software development in construction machinery often involves employees from different disciplines who have technological expertise about the process but little software background. Low-code platforms allow software to be developed intuitively without extensive programming knowledge. However, in mechatronics, the resulting programs are often facing the so-called scaling-up problem that occurs in case highly complex technical processes are implemented using graphical programming languages. This paper thus presents an assistant that supports the programming of automation software on low-code platforms to reduce the complexity of the resulting code. Static code analysis and machine learning are combined to enable predictions about software blocks to be used. For the example of the low-code platform eDesign, a graphical programming platform developed by HAWE Hydraulik SE, it is shown how users of the platform can be assisted in creating maintainable, reusable automation software in the construction machinery sector.