Simulation of tuning effects for a servo driven mechatronic system

• US 20100082314A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Elvis, Graham, Pritchard, John, Chaffee, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/13
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2119/06 Power analysis or power optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30

Abstract

A servo driven mechatronic system simulator and analyzer utilizing preconfigured motion equipment profile databases to predict the behavior of a motion system based on a user selected configuration. The user can adjust the parameters and rerun the simulation and analysis many times in an efficient manner until the optimum operating conditions of the desired system are reached. The user can then archive the system design and implement the system with a greater level of confidence in the ability of the design to meet the requirements of the application.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for an industrial automation system for simulating a servo driven mechatronic system and determining optimum operational components and configuration parameters, the system comprising:

a database access component for collecting motion data from preconfigured motion equipment databases;

a simulation component for simulating the operation of selected motion equipment and configured parameters;

an analysis component for analyzing data provided by a simulation and determining optimum equipment;

an interface component for collecting user selections;

a visualization component for displaying a simulation and analysis results; and

a storage component for archiving motion application models and analysis results.

2. The system of claim 1, the database access component further comprises facilitating the selection of a subset of all available databases for use in the simulation.

3. The system of claim 1, the database access component further comprises facilitating the creation of a user defined preconfigured database for use in the simulation.

4. The system of claim 1, the simulation component further comprises a compliance/backlash component for simulating backlash and determining resonance characteristics associated with a servo driven mechatronic system design.

5. The system of claim 4, the compliance/backlash component further comprises facilitating the changing of compliance and backlash parameters between simulations based on manual input from a user.

6. The system of claim 1, the simulation component further comprises a network component for simulating the influence of a selected network on the stability of the servo driven mechatronic system.

7. The system of claim 6, the network component further comprises facilitating the changing of network configuration parameters between simulations based on manual input from a user.

8. The system of claim 1, the simulation component further comprises a controller component for predicting control loop parameters.

9. The system of claim 8, the controller component further comprises facilitating the automatic tuning of the predicted control loop parameters.

10. The system of claim 9, the controller component facilitates automatic tuning based on application type.

11. The system of claim 10, the controller component facilitates the user selecting one or more control parameters for inclusion in the automatic tuning calculations.

12. The system of claim 1, the visualization component facilitates the display of a graphical representation of the output from the simulator in a plurality of graphs representing different aspects of the simulation in a synchronous display plot.

13. A method employing a servo driven mechatronic simulation system for predicting and optimizing equipment selection and control parameters, the method comprising:

configuring a motion simulation application of equipment and control configuration parameters;

accessing a database of preconfigured motion profile data;

simulating a motion application of equipment and control;

displaying a motion simulation and tuning analysis results; and

archiving the motion application and tuning analysis results.

14. The method of claim 13, the user selects an automatic mode of control parameter selection for configuring the motion application.

15. The method of claim 14, the user further selects an application type for the automatic mode.

16. The method of claim 15, the user further selects one or more control parameters for inclusion in the automatic mode of control parameter calculation.

17. The method of claim 13, the user adjusts the parameters displayed for the simulation and tuning analysis and reruns the simulation with the adjusted parameters.

18. The method of claim 13, the user shares the results of the simulation and tuning analysis with other servo driven mechatronic systems communicatively connected to a user'"'"'s system.

19. A computer-implemented system, the system including a processor and memory, comprising:

means for collecting motion data from preconfigured motion equipment databases;

means for simulating the operation of selected motion equipment and configured parameters;

means for analyzing data provided by a simulation and determining optimum equipment;

means for collecting user selections;

means for displaying a simulation and analysis results; and

means for archiving motion application models and analysis results.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means automatically selecting control loop parameters;

means for automatically tuning the selected control loop parameters;

means for selecting compliance and backlash parameters; and

means for selecting network parameters.