ENHANCED SIMULATION MODELS FOR AUTOMATION

• US 20090089032A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Sturrock, David Thayer, Glavach, Mark Anson, Drake, Glenn Richardson, Crooks, Cory R., Palmieri, Frank Anthony JR., Takus, A. David, O'Neill Kolt, Genevieve
• Granted Patent: US 7,809,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/7
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/08 Probabilistic or stochastic CAD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30

Abstract

A simulation tool for an industrial automation system is provided. The tool includes a simulation component that simulates one or more components of an industrial control system. At least one directed model provides one or more suggested parameters or profiles to the simulation component, where the suggested parameters or profiles are derived from data relating to an industry or controls application.

Claims

1. A simulation tool for an automation system, comprising:

a simulation component that simulates one or more components of an industrial control system; and

at least one directed model that provides one or more suggested parameters or profiles to the simulation component, the suggested parameters or profiles are derived from data relating to an industry or controls application.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more execution components that are generated as re-usable models for the simulation component.

3. The system of claim 2, the execution components are generated as run-time modules for the one or more components of the industrial control system.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an optimization component that creates simulation models for a failed simulation or a new configuration of components in the industrial control system.

5. The system of claim 1, the directed model further comprises a device model, an industry model, or a manufacturing model.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an implementation component that downloads the executable runtime code to a controller.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a database component that stores data from a monitoring component in order to update simulation models for an industrial control system.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising an input component that accepts a set of specifications from a user, the specifications include design preferences, performance goals, or objectives.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising an identifier component that determines components or methodologies suitable to achieve specifications set forth by a user and correlates a simulation model to suitable components or methodologies.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a logic component that determines whether the specifications are within manufacturing capabilities.

11. A method of generating simulation code for an automation system, comprising:

executing a simulation of an industrial automation system; and

simulating at least one directed model for the industrial automation system.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a set of specifications;

identifying components or methods suitable to meet the specifications; and

associating the simulation of the industrial automation system with one or more simulation models of the identified components or methods.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

identifying at least one simulation model that failed simulation;

creating an alternative simulation model; and

re-executing the simulation.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising monitoring simulations to determine alternative simulation modules.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising learning the alternative simulation modules via one or more classifier processes.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating one or more parameters and associating the one or more parameters with one or more fields of a specification.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating at least one simulation model for a component of an industrial automation system, the component includes a controller, an input/output module, a communication module, and an intelligent module.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising executing the simulation model into one or more runtime code modules.

19. The method of claim 18, the runtime code modules are associated with ladder logic, Sequential Function Logic, input/output module codes, communication codes, or remote Internet interface code.

20. A system to automatically generate executable control code, comprising:

means for defining one or more specifications of a control system;

means for simulating the specifications; and

means for generating one or more directed models from the specifications.