A computer-implemented method for facilitating control system testing, and interfacing with an external dynamic process model by means of a test and simulation tool, the control system including a plurality of control module aspect types, each control module aspect type being one of a control module type and a field device signal type, wherein the method includes: c) receiving, via an I/O port of the test and simulation tool, control module aspect type data from a control module aspect type of the control system, d) converting the control module aspect type data to simplified control module aspect type data based on the control module aspect type, e) providing the simplified control module aspect type data to a simplified general control module aspect type, the simplified general control module aspect type being a simplified representation of the control module aspect type, and f) performing a feedback simulation using the simplified general control module aspect type and the simplified control module aspect type data, or g) sending the simplified control module aspect type data from the test and simulation tool to the external dynamic process model.

A sequence control program and an HMI control program are synchronized and simulated. A program development support unit includes a calculation unit and a storage unit. A sequence control editing program for achieving a sequence control editing unit, an HMI control editing program for achieving an HMI control editing unit, and an integration simulation management program for achieving an integration simulation management unit are stored in the storage unit. The integration simulation management unit manages the synchronization of simulation of the sequence control program and simulation of the HMI control program. The integration simulation management unit executes variable management process. In the variable management process, common variables are exchanged between the sequence control program and the HMI control program during execution of the simulation of the sequence control program and the simulation of the HMI control program.

A method for evaluating a simulation model. In the method, for selected test cases, a first performance index is calculated in the simulation model. For the same test case, a second performance index is ascertained in a real test environment. For each of the test cases, a difference is calculated between the first performance index and the second performance index, and a signal metric is determined. For each of the signal metrics, an interrelation between the difference and the respective signal metric is investigated. The signal metric that exhibits the closest interrelation with the difference is selected.

An information processing device controls operation trouble or a calculation amount related to a machine interference check by automatically creating a three-dimensional model optimal for the machine interference check. The information processing device optimizes, for the interference check, three-dimensional model data of a machine including a plurality of structures. The information processing device includes a check object selection unit that performs selection among the structures, and a model creating unit that creates three-dimensional model data for an interference check which data includes the selected structure. Since the information processing device can generate three-dimensional model data optimized for an interference check, there is no trouble for a user to create new three-dimensional model data by himself/herself, and a simple and effective interference check can be realized.

A robot setting apparatus includes a grip reference point setting unit, a grip direction setting unit that defines a grip direction in which the end effector model grips the workpiece model, a workpiece side grip location designation unit that designates a grip position at which the end effector model grips the workpiece model in a state in which at least the workpiece model is displayed in an image display region, and a relative position setting unit that sets a relative position between the end effector model and the workpiece model such that the grip direction defined in the grip direction setting unit is orthogonal to a workpiece plane representing an attitude of the workpiece model displayed in the image display region, and the grip reference point is located at the grip position along the grip direction.

Systems, methods, and software to facilitate simulating machines used in industrial automation are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, an API is utilized to establish at least a communication link between a simulation model created in a simulation application and an industrial controller system outside of the simulation model, wherein the simulation model comprises definitions for a virtual representation of at least a portion of a machine used in an industrial automation environment. Data is then exchanged between the industrial controller system and the simulation model over the communication link.

A method for the transformation of information relating to at least one position on a globe from a first global coordinates system into a second local coordinates system, where the position in the first global coordinates system is provided by information relating to the longitude and a latitude, and the position in the second local coordinates system is provided in terms of two axes arranged orthogonally to one another. The method includes receiving a signal containing information relating to the position by means of an antenna, determining a first distance (x) between the position and a reference longitude for the first local axis using a calculation unit, and determining a second distance (y) between the position and a reference latitude for the second local axis by means of the calculation unit. The reference longitude is selected in such a way that it is near to the position.

A system and method for generating a behavior model for simulating an automation system, wherein signal flows between components of the automation system are simulated. The system comprises a CAD application for developing CAD drawings of the components of the automation system, where the CAD application comprises first modules for defining a geometric scope of application for the data interfaces of the components, second modules for defining at least one signal transmission prerequisite, which marks at least one relative position of two scopes of application relative to each other, at which signal transmission is possible between associated data interfaces, third modules for verifying the compatibility of the data interfaces at which the signal transmission prerequisite is met, and fourth modules for generating the behavior model such that a signal flow between the data interfaces at which the signal transmission prerequisite and compatibility are met is modeled in the simulation.

A method and a control arrangement for an electric power conversion system including a plurality of electric power converters, the control arrangement configured to collect data related to the electric power conversion system, determine an optimal configuration for each one of the electric power converters of the electric power conversion system on the basis of collected data through a simulation of the electric power conversion system generate, for each one of the electric power converters, a source code for a firmware of the electric power converter on the basis of the determined optimal configuration for the electric power converter in question, and re-program each one of the electric power converters with the respective source code generated for the electric power converter in question.

Parameters are estimated for continuous time linear gray-box models using a fast sensitivity evaluation, which is a measure of how output of the model changes with changes in parameters. A two-step parameter estimation of non-linear models, such as a steady-state model and dynamical model, is performed. A parameter estimation algorithm is employed for estimation of non-linear model parameters via local approximation at different system operating levels or operating set-points. The parameter estimation task is improved by an efficient parameter estimation of linear, continuous-time, stochastic, gray-box models. It is further improved by using a two-step parameter estimation of non-linear, continuous-time, gray-box models. It is still further improved by employing the efficient parameter estimation algorithm for the non-linear gray-box models.