Hardware-in-the-Loop

One of the main use-cases addressed by Automation Connect is the so-called "Hardware in the Loop, HiL" case. In HiL, Simcenter Amesim is used to simulate the behavior of a PLC controlled system—typically a production machine—, whereas the Automation Connect tool connects Simcenter Amesim to real PLC establishing a continuous data exchange. For this connection, a hardware communication gateway is required. This gateway can be a Siemens SIMIT Unit hardware Siemens SIMIT Unit hardware , also known as "Simulation Unit" or even "SIMBA box SIMBA box ". Note that in this case, in addition to a Siemens PLC and Simcenter Amesim, a Siemens SIMIT Unit hardware is required. A detailed description for the necessary steps is given in the later examples.

Note

Using a SIMIT Unit is especially interesting for applications requiring fast communications (typically over PROFINET/PROFIBUS).

Alternatively, and if fast communications are not a strong requirement (e.g. if only monitoring of variables is needed), the OPC UA client implemented in Automation Connect can also be used. This client allows exchanging variables with any other OPC UA server and can be a simple way to couple Simcenter Amesim with third-party (non-Siemens) PLCs that also comply with the OPC UA standard.

When to use Hardware-in-the-Loop?

In HiL, a Simcenter Amesim model replaces totally or partially a real machine (or any physical controlled system) or is used in parallel to the real process. This is particularly interesting to:

• validate PLC control strategies online based on a virtualized controlled system yet able to represent the expected dynamics of the real machine,

• enhance or compare data measured from the field with simulated data (e.g. coming from virtual sensors provided by the Simcenter Amesim model),

• assist operators during real machine operation thanks to simulated predictions or diagnoses made by a Simcenter Amesim "digital twin" fed with real data acquired from the field.