Cost and time savings with increased safety and better quality
The digital twin, often associated with the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) in the German “Plattform Industrie 4.0” initiative, is a crucial tool in the manufacturing sector for securing automation applications. It provides a digital image of a complete automation application, enabling users to simulate individual components’ behavior and provide a comprehensive view of the entire production process.
Decisive use case of the industrial digital twin
The digital twin is a digital representation of manufacturing system components, used to simulate and analyze production systems. It helps identify potential fault scenarios and simulates system behavior under different conditions. Virtual commissioning is a crucial use case for industrial digital twins, especially in complex production systems. It allows for cost-effective testing of virtual models before completion, enables safe testing without endangering people, machines, or the environment, and helps detect faults early, improving end-product quality and shortening startup time.
Efficient implementation based on the RF::Suite
EKS InTec GmbH’s RF::Suite is a software tool for virtual commissioning in machine building and systems manufacturing. Its modular and scalable approach allows for flexible use in various applications, making it an integral part of the automotive industry. The tool also offers benefits beyond virtual commissioning, such as instructing employees and ensuring realism independently of the production system’s control hardware.
PLCnext Technology open ecosystem for current and future automation tasks
Phoenix Contact’s PLCnext technology is an open ecosystem for automation, combining automation tasks and IIoT demands in a single device. It includes the PLCnext Engineer software platform, PLCnext Store digital marketplace, PLCnext Community, and systemic cloud integration. The firmware architecture is Linux-based, allowing users to use IEC 61131-3 code, high-level languages, and Matlab Simulink control algorithm models. The platform also allows users to add Linux-based components, data management, and communication protocols.
Virtual SiL simulation of the complete system to be automated
Virtual commissioning can involve various control systems, including hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) concepts and virtual automation systems. The RF::Suite generates simulations of the planned physical system, allowing for initial test scenarios and code improvements. PLCnext Engineer Simulation allows users to configure, execute, and test projects in a virtual environment, including IEC 61131-3 code, Matlab Simulink models, and high-level language components. Further development of PLCnext Engineer Simulation will enable the simulation of the entire automation system, creating a digital twin for automation. This approach allows for seamless interaction between the physical and virtual systems, ensuring optimal performance and optimization.
Learn more about PLCnext technology and Virtual commissioning
