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a b s t r a c tThe design of safe industrial controllers is one of the most important domains related to Automation Systems research. To support it, synthesis and analysis techniques are available. Among the analysis techniques, two of the most important are Simulation and Formal Verification. In this paper these two techniques are used together in a complementary way. Understanding plant behaviour is essential for obtaining safe industrial systems controllers; hence, plant modelling is crucial to the success of these techniques. A two step approach is presented: first, the use of Simulation and, second, the use of Formal Verification of Industrial Systems Specifications. The specification and plant models used for each technique are described. Simulation and Formal Verification results are presented and discussed. The approach presented in the paper can be applied to real industrial systems, and obtain safe controllers for hybrid plants. The Modelica modelling language and Dymola simulation environment are used for Simulation purposes, and Timed Automata formalism and the UPPAAL real-time model-checker are used for Formal Verification purposes.

Abstract-This paper presents the first developments of an industrial network laboratory prototype. In the Automation Laboratory several kits have been implemented for local and remote control tests. The approach includes the design and implementation of an industrial network where the common communications protocols can be tested: the Automation Network Locker (ANL). To facilitate the monitoring and control of the network, WALC (Web Assisted Laboratory for Control Engineering on-line Education) interface platform was developed. This allows the remote monitoring and control of the pedagogic kits to complement the teaching/learning automation to undergraduate engineering students. The security of network access is also taken into account in order to limit and control the number of users that can access it. An on-line questionnaire accessed at the end of each semester, allows an actualization and to follow the students' feedback.