Systems and methods for simulating fieldbus devices

A method for simulating an operation of a Fieldbus system comprising at least one Fieldbus Interface Module (FIM) communicatively coupled to a plurality of field devices, comprising the steps of:

• creating a simulation computer model of a Fieldbus system configuration, said simulation computer model comprising a plurality of functional blocks and a plurality of interconnections between said plurality of functional blocks, said plurality of functional blocks representing said at least one FIM and/or said plurality of field devices;
• generating a plurality of simulation data records comprising data defining said simulation computer model, operating characteristics of said at least one FIM, operating characteristics of said plurality of field devices coupled to said at least one FIM, communication links between said at least one FIM and said plurality of field devices, and at least one control strategy of said Fieldbus system;
• and
• running simulation software installed on an embedded device to simulate at least one operation of said Fieldbus system using at least a portion of said simulation computer model and at least one of said plurality of simulation data records.