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URLhttps://doi.org/10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2025-WEAG004
TitleRobust and maintainable operation using behavior tree semantics
Authors
  • W. Van Herck, G. Pospelov, R. Gunion
    ITER
  • R. Lange
    ITER Organization
AbstractThe ITER machine's inherent complexity and the diverse operational phases, such as commissioning and engineering operations, present significant challenges in balancing operability, integration, and automation. The open-source software framework oac-tree* was designed to create, maintain, and execute operational procedures in a robust and repeatable manner. Its semantics are based on a behavior tree model, which inherently supports reactive behavior, making it well-suited for goal-oriented tasks. To accommodate diverse use cases — from small-scale tests to fully integrated operations — the framework's architecture was built with composability and extensibility in mind. System-specific interfaces and user interactions are fully decoupled from the core library, ensuring flexibility and adaptability. The oac-tree library is deployed in production at ITER, offering a command-line interface for executing procedures as system daemons or for interactive use. Its maintainability is ensured by a minimal, low-complexity codebase with well-encapsulated third-party dependencies. The oac-tree ecosystem also includes a Qt-based graphical user interface and a server enabling multiple clients to interact with running procedures. A plugin mechanism supports framework extensions, with existing plugins available for EPICS-based control systems, mathematical expression evaluation, common control system logic, and ITER-specific network protocols.
Paperdownload: WEAG004.pdf
CiteBibTeX, LaTeX, Text/Word, RIS, EndNote
Conference20th Int. Conf. Accel. Large Exp. Phys. Control Syst. (ICALEPCS'25)
Series
LocationChicago, IL, USA
Date20-26 Sep 2025
PublisherJACoW Publishing, Geneva, Switzerland
Editorial BoardKent Wootton (ANL), Jeffery Biss (FNAL), Gustavo Bruno (ANL), Jeff Kirchman (ANL), Kelly Jaje (ANL), Denise Skiadopoulos (ANL), SuYin Grass Wang (ANL)
Online ISBN978-3-95450-255-4
Online ISSN2226-0358
Received05 September 2025
Revised24 September 2025
Accepted29 October 2025
Issued25 November 2025
DOI10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2025-WEAG004
Pages789-795