Time synchronization of signal transmission intervals for simulating a machine in industrial automation
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsFrancisco Maturana, Haithem Mansouri, Jaroslav Kriz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods, and software to facilitate simulating machines used in industrial automation are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, an API is utilized to establish at least a communication link between a simulation model created in a simulation application and an industrial controller system outside of the simulation model, wherein the simulation model comprises definitions for a virtual representation of at least a portion of a machine used in an industrial automation environment. Data is then exchanged between the industrial controller system and the simulation model over the communication link.
Claims16
A computing system to facilitate simulating machines used in industrial automation comprising:
- one or more computer readable storage media;
- a simulation module, embodied at least in part in a first program instruction stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, comprising a simulation functional mock-up unit (FMU) for at least one simulation;
- a controller module, embodied at least in part in a second program instruction stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, comprising a controller FMU for at least one industrial controller and an application programming interface (API), wherein the API reads and writes tags for data exchanged between the controller module and the simulation module;
- and
- a co-simulation master, embodied at least in part in a third program instruction stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, that:
- connects the controller module to the simulation module;
- when the controller module transfers control data to the simulation module, utilizes the API to apply a first timestamp to the control data exchanged from the controller module to the simulation module to mark a first time;
- when the simulation module receives the control data, applies a second timestamp to the control data to mark a second time different than the first time;
- and
- processes the timestamps to synchronize the simulation module and the controller module.
A device implemented method to facilitate simulating machines used in industrial automation, the method comprising:
- via a co-simulation master embodied at least in part in program instructions stored on one or more computer readable storage media:
- connecting a controller module comprising a controller functional mock-up unit (FMU) for at least one industrial controller and an application programming interface (API), which reads and writes tags for data exchanged between the controller module and the simulation module, to a simulation module comprising at least one simulation;
- when the controller module transfers control data to the simulation module, utilizing the API to apply a first timestamp to the control data exchanged from the controller module to the simulation module to mark a first time;
- when the simulation module receives the control data, applying a second timestamp to the control data to mark a second time different than the first time;
- and
- processing the timestamps to synchronize the simulation module and the controller module;
- wherein the simulation module and the controller module are embodied at least in part in the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.