Why Simulation in Control Engineering Is No Nonsense

Why Simulation in Control Engineering Is No Nonsense

Why Simulation in Control Engineering Is No Nonsense 889 500 Michael Eberle

Absolute nonsense! This is what some colleagues have to say when it comes to 3D simulation, digital twins or virtual commissioning in control engineering. The fact is, however, that many of these colleagues do not fully understand what is behind the topic of 3D simulation and what advantages it offers for control programmers. The possibilities are revolutionary – if you dare…

My Approach to Simulation

For a long time I worked as a control engineer for precision measuring instruments. Anyone who is serious about control engineering does simulations long before a line of code is even written. First, mathematical models of the controlled system are created. Only these models make it possible to design efficient controls with the help of smart algorithms. The fact that controller and controlled system exist as a mathematical model makes a simulation of the entire control loop obvious: The control is simulated, i.e. tested, on the model of the controlled system. And testing means torpedoing the simulated control loop with every conceivable disturbance, pushing model parameters to their limits, trying out switch-on behavior under a wide variety of conditions – even calculation inaccuracies in the controller are tested in the simulation. Only when it is really guaranteed that the controller works as desired, code is written and tested on the real controlled system.

And now guess what: The control actually works in reality! Of course, in most cases fine-tuning of the control parameters is necessary because the mathematical model usually represents reality only by approximation. But the structure of the controller, the switch-on behaviour, the reaction to disturbances, it all works!

Mathematical Modeling of a Machine?

In most applications, control engineering tasks do not require a mathematical model. They require engineering skills and logical thinking. Control engineers know their machine and are able to create PLC programs for the most complex devices by means of a specification sheet and an electrical plan. Since programming is usually done parallel to the mechanical production of the machine, the control program can only be tested rudimentarily during development. Proper testing is carried out during the in-house commissioning or, if not otherwise possible, at the customer’s plant.

Hold on. At the customer’s plant. You have to let that sink in.

Is it really possible that we can only test PLC programs at the very end, namely when the machine has been fully assembled? Many conversations with control engineers and managers in the industry have reconfirmed one thing for me: Nobody wants to voluntarily change an existing and functioning PLC program, especially not if it has been growing over the years. Precisely because changes and their effects can only be tested on the actual machine. Nevertheless, we have to do exactly that.

Why Is That So?

Complete testing of control software is not exactly a trivial matter. The mechanical production and assembly of machines usually takes a long time, i.e. the programming of the controller starts even before the machine is actually available. The machines are often large and can be set up only partially, if at all, within the own company premises. When retrofitting existing systems – meaning upgrading the control technology components – downtime should be kept as short as necessary, so testing is only possible to a limited extent.

Now it would be wrong to say that control programs are not being tested today. On the contrary! Control engineers are creative and have developed various simulation modes and modules in their code. The problem with that? These are mostly structures which are not based on physical laws and therefore difficult to extend or unfortunately very prone to errors.

Let me give you an example: Consider a conveyor belt with a light barrier at the beginning and end of the line. The direction of the conveyor belt is supposed to change when a bottle interrupts the corresponding light barrier. A simple approach to test the function would be to program a simulation module that switches the signals of the light barriers accordingly after a fixed time. But what if the size of the bottles changes? What if there are two bottles on the conveyor belt?

You are already getting the idea, aren’t you? To be able to test PLC programs realistically, we ultimately need the machine. We have to be able to specify control variables on actuators and need realistic feedback from sensors.

Physics Based Simulation in 3D

Or would a simulated machine also help, which behaves exactly like the real machine from the controller’s point of view? Actually yes! Modern simulation programs enable us to achieve exactly that. Without any specialized simulation know-how, we can bring machines to life digitally and in 3D and connect them to the real control system. Even safety signals are possible with the simulated machine. So here the machine simulation offers us the possibility to test our PLC program in its entirety. Simulation markers and special adjustments to the program are no longer necessary. Some call it virtual commissioning, others call it digital twin. I see this as a new era in control engineering.

Do We Really Have to Do Something Now?

In my opinion, the answer is a resounding YES! The machines we build become more efficient from generation to generation. While looking through our project archives, I came across a machine whose first generation is now ten years old. A comparison with the current generation shows the following:

WasÄnderung
Taktzeit100 % mehr Durchsatz
Anzahl mechanischer Freiheitsgrade100 % hinzu
Qualitätssicherung100 % Kontrolle mit Bildverarbeitung
Reduktion der Rüstzeit durch automatische AbläufeNeu hinzu
Unterstützung der Anlagenbediener im FehlerfallNeu hinzu
BetriebsdatenerfassungNeu hinzu
Anzahl Funktionen und Funktionsbausteine im SPS-Programm200 % hinzu
Sicherheitsprogramm in der SPSNeu hinzu

Why do I use this example? It makes one thing very clear and I’m sure you’ll agree with me: machines are constantly being developed and improved. They become more efficient. The software takes over more tasks. It becomes more complex.

And this brings us back to the topic of simulation. In order to be able to sustainably program good control software, we have to change our way of thinking – a paradigm shift is needed: We have to start testing control software while we program it. And not only during the in-house commissioning, or worse, at the customer’s facility! The goal should be to start the commissioning process with a fully tested control software. Of course, adjustments to the parameters are still going to be necessary – the simulation only reflects reality in an idealized way. But when we start commissioning, we already know that processes, error messages, recipe management, etc. work. And believe me, this knowledge will help you sleep much better 🙂

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Michael Eberle

Dipl.-Ing. Michael Eberle studierte Elektrotechnik an der TU Graz und leitet bei Eberle Automatische Systeme die Abteilung für Modellierung und Simulation. In seiner Funktion ist er unter anderem für die Entwicklung einer intelligenten Software zur Erstellung und Simulation modellbasierter digitaler Zwillinge verantwortlich.

Autor: Michael Eberle

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