All over the week, we will share through our DELMIA Linked’In page, a serie of videos to share what DELMIA is doing for "Virtual Commissioning", to provide our customer a comprehensive solution that will help them commission new automated stations / lines / factories faster, easier, and cheaper than before. 

Today, the second video is about Model-In-The-Loop, that enhance the power of having ControlBuild connected to DELMIA, to quickly define the complete Virtual Twin (that includes Robots, but not only…)

2. Model-In-The-Loop Simulation: Connect DELMIA Robotics to ControlBuild

 At this stage, and before to Run the Co-Simulation, the Virtual Twin must be completed:

• In DELMIA: define sensors, conveyor sections, source & sinks.. and create all mechanical Equipment, with their kinematics. 
• In ControlBuild: define the Plant Behavior model: starting from an Equipment Library, detail how electromechanical equipment that are not commanded by a Robot Controller  (ie: Conveyor, Cylinders...) are behaving (Energy, Speed…).

In MiL, the control model can be developed in ControlBuild, using any PLC programming language defined in the IEC-61131 (Ladder Diagram, Sequential Function Chart, Structured Text…). This can be considered as a prototype of the future PLC code (independent of the PLC Brand), that defines the process sequence, the safety management...

Additionally, an Interactive User Interface (HMI / Synoptic) can be designed, and used during the Co-Simulation. With this panel, the operator can visualize indicators on the process state (sensor detection value, Robot state, Control Program state…) and influence it with user commands (push buttons, Emergency Stops..).

In summary, the objective of the MiL Simulation is twofold: first, to validate and optimize the Virtual Twin of the station/line (including cylinder design, sensor positioning, conveyor speed, safety aspects, etc.), and second, to validate the concepts of the control program that will manage the manufacturing process.

In this previous post, we demonstrated how the connection between DELMIA and ControlBuild can be established.

The video is already live here, so don't hesitate to share it with your network, and stay tuned for the next one tomorrow!

Find Monday's post here.