Cyber-Virtual Systems: Simulation, Validation & Visualization

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development of cyber-virtual systems in industrial automation, focusing on simulation, validation, visualization, and remote collaboration using the VITELab infrastructure.

Contribution

It introduces a new methodology integrating visualization infrastructure with simulation and validation techniques for cyber-virtual systems in industrial settings.

Findings

Successful integration of visualization and simulation tools.

Enabling remote modeling and visualization of industrial sites.

Advances in software modeling for cyber-virtual components.

Abstract

We describe our ongoing work and view on simulation, validation and visualization of cyber-physical systems in industrial automation during development, operation and maintenance. System models may represent an existing physical part - for example an existing robot installation - and a software simulated part - for example a possible future extension. We call such systems cyber-virtual systems. In this paper, we present the existing VITELab infrastructure for visualization tasks in industrial automation. The new methodology for simulation and validation motivated in this paper integrates this infrastructure. We are targeting scenarios, where industrial sites which may be in remote locations are modeled and visualized from different sites anywhere in the world. Complementing the visualization work, here, we are also concentrating on software modeling challenges related to cyber-virtual systems and simulation, testing, validation and verification techniques for them. Software models of industrial sites require behavioural models of the components of the industrial sites such as models for tools, robots, workpieces and other machinery as well as communication and sensor facilities. Furthermore, collaboration between sites is an important goal of our work.