Work-in-Progress: Machine Development Using Virtual Commissioning

Abstract

Due to the changes around industry 4.0 and digital production many work processes are changing and it has to be clarified which of these new possibilities brings added value in which situations compared to the “old” approaches. In mechanical engineering and in the process industry, it is possible to create a virtual twin of a machine or plant. With the help of this twin, the control software can be completed and tested at a much earlier stage. This leads to a reduction of effort in case of an error in the software, as bugs can be detected and eliminated at a much earlier stage of the project. A fundamental design bug in the control software during commissioning on the real machine would have a major impact on completion and associated costs. In addition, design bugs can be detected before production and a functional solution can be worked out together with the design department. In this publication, a solution concept is worked out and implemented with which a virtual commissioning of the virtual twin is carried out. As an example for the implementation of the virtual concept, the control of a high-bay warehouse was developed.