Methods for Reliable Simulation-Based PLC Code Verification

Author

Carlsson, Henrik ; Svensson, Bo ; Danielsson, Fredrik ; Lennartson, Bengt

Author_Institution

Dept. of Eng. Sci., Flexible Ind. Autom. Res. Group, Univ. West, Trollhattan, Sweden

Volume

8

Issue

2

fYear

2012

fDate

5/1/2012 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

267

Lastpage

278

Abstract

Simulation-based programmable logic controller (PLC) code verification is a part of virtual commissioning, where the control code is verified against a virtual prototype of an application. With today´s general OPC interface, it is easy to connect a PLC to a simulation tool for, e.g., verification purposes. However, there are some problems with this approach that can lead to an unreliable verification result. In this paper, four major problems with the OPC interface are described, and two possible solutions to the problems are presented: a general IEC 61131-3-based software solution, and a new OPC standard solution.

Keywords

commissioning; formal verification; programmable controllers; virtual prototyping; IEC 61131-3-based software; OPC interface; control code; programmable logic controller; simulation-based PLC code verification; virtual commissioning; virtual prototype; Computational modeling; Jitter; Metals; Real time systems; Robots; Servers; Synchronization; Industrial control system; programmable logic controller (PLC); simulation; simulation-based PLC code verification; virtual commissioning;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Industrial Informatics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1551-3203

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TII.2011.2182653

Filename

6121945