Industrial simulation using redirected I/O module configurations

A simulation module, comprising:

• a memory storing computer-executable instructions;
• and
• a processor communicatively coupled to the memory that facilitates execution of the computer-executable instructions to:
• execute a simulation of an industrial process;
• read I/O module configuration data defined in an industrial control program;
• determine an I/O module type defined by the I/O module configuration data;
• retrieve a generic I/O module profile corresponding to the I/O module type from a stored set of generic I/O module profiles, wherein the stored set of generic I/O module profiles comprises two or more generic I/O module profiles;
• modify the generic I/O module profile based on the I/O module configuration data resulting in a set of I/O connection definitions;
• exchange, based on a first timing defined by a simulation clock, simulation data between the simulation and an I/O module instance of the industrial control program based on the set of I/O connection definitions, wherein the industrial controller executes the industrial control program in accordance with a second timing defined by a controller clock to process input signals received from the simulation and control output signals directed to the simulation;
• and
• dynamically designate one of the simulation clock or the controller clock to act as a master clock for exchange of the simulation data between the simulation and the I/O module instance.

A method, comprising:

• executing, by a system comprising a processor, a simulation of an industrial process;
• retrieving, by the system, I/O module configuration data defined in an industrial control program;
• retrieving, by the system, a generic I/O module profile corresponding to an I/O module type defined by the I/O module configuration data, wherein the retrieving the generic I/O module profile comprises selecting the generic I/O module profile from among two or more generic I/O module profiles that describe generic characteristics of corresponding I/O module types;
• modifying, by the system, the generic I/O module profile based on the I/O module configuration data to yield a set of available I/O point definitions for an I/O module corresponding to the I/O module configuration data;
• and
• communicatively, by the system, interfacing, by the system, a simulation I/O point of the simulation with an I/O point of an I/O module instance defined by the industrial control program and corresponding to the I/O module based on the set of available I/O point definitions;
• exchanging, by the system via the interfacing and using a first timing defined by a simulation clock, simulation data between the simulation I/O point and the I/O point of the I/O module, wherein the industrial controller executes the industrial control program using a second timing defined by a controller clock to process input signals received from the simulation and to control output signals directed to the simulation;
• and
• dynamically designating, by the system, one of the simulation clock or the controller clock to serve as a master clock for the exchanging.