JP2005267576A - Simulation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simulation device adaptive to a change in a simulation object without performing a work for changing software by an engineer who knows software technique. <P>SOLUTION: The simulation device to be used for a purpose to test the control function of a controller is provided with: a communication mechanism having a function of performing communication with the controller; a data monitoring mechanism having a display function; a data editing mechanism for generating a scenario constituted of input/output definition data being information concerning an input/output component and of one or more commands an input/output definition mechanism for generating input/output signal information, based on the input/output definition data and outputting the input/output component to the data monitoring mechanism; and a scenario mechanism for capturing a scenario and implementing the captured scenario, based on the input/output signal information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a device (simulation device, simulator) that tests the control function of the control device that plays the role of the actual device in a state where there is no real device to be controlled by the control device.

  As a simulation apparatus, for example, an example having a configuration described later is known.

  A simulation apparatus according to Conventional Example 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Conventionally, it is known to use a test environment using a software simulator for testing a control function of a control device. A simulation method using a test environment using a software simulator generally has a problem that it takes a high cost to construct the test environment. In the conventional example 1, a simulator is used to solve this problem. We propose a simulation method that improves the reusability of the simulator and a simulator that realizes the simulation method.

Specifically, in Conventional Example 1, the simulator is roughly divided into a module related to “simulator function for simulating and executing the operation of the target product” and a module related to “test support function for supporting test”, and each functional module is further subdivided. By combining these modules and selecting or changing them, it is possible to improve the reusability of the simulator.
Proposal of Embedded Software Test Method by Simulation and Efficient Operation Method of Test Environment (IPSJ Research Report) (Software Engineering 126-10). 2000/3/10

  The prior art as described above still requires software technology. That is, with the change of the simulation target, it is necessary to deal with the modification of the software forming the test environment, and further, in the actual test, a test by an engineer who is aware of the software technology is required. In addition, because it is biased toward testing based on the internal structure of the software, it is difficult to realize unexpected usage methods and conditions in the software, and malfunctions due to such unexpected usage methods and conditions may occur. There was a problem that it was difficult to detect the possibility in advance and construct a solution.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described problems related to the prior art, the present invention provides a simulation apparatus that can cope with a change of a simulation target without performing an operation of changing software by an engineer who recognizes the software technology. Objective.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a simulation device used for testing a control function of a control device, a communication mechanism having a function of communicating with the control device, a data monitoring mechanism having a display function, and an input device. A data editing mechanism that generates a scenario composed of input / output definition data that is information related to the output component and one or more commands, and input / output signal information based on the input / output definition data. A simulation apparatus comprising: an input / output definition mechanism that outputs the scenario to the data monitoring mechanism; and a scenario mechanism that captures the scenario and executes the captured scenario based on the input / output signal information. .
In the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, the scenario mechanism is registered scenario information that is information related to a scenario registered in the data monitoring mechanism, and progress information of a scenario that is selected and executed The simulation apparatus is characterized in that it generates scenario content information related to and rewrites them.
In addition to the above-described configuration, the invention according to claim 3 of the present invention has a function in which the data monitoring mechanism displays an image of a device that is a target of the simulation device, and displays an image of an input / output component in combination with the image. It is the simulation apparatus characterized by having carried out.

In the simulation apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, by changing data that is easy to handle even for an engineer who is not aware of software technology, such as a scenario composed of input / output definition data and commands, Various control devices and various devices controlled by the control device can be applied as simulation targets while avoiding correspondences accompanied by alterations and avoiding problems associated therewith. In addition, it is possible to respond to changes in the simulation target itself in a short time.
In addition, it is possible to provide a simulation apparatus that can realize various interactive processes between a control device and a device controlled by the control apparatus even in the same simulation target, and can respond to changes in the interactive process in a short time. .
In addition to the effect of the simulation device of claim 1 described above, the simulation device of claim 2 has an effect that a simulation of various contents can be easily switched and executed by registering scenarios of various contents in advance. Play. In addition, it is possible to perform precise confirmation as to which command of the scenario being selected and executed is being executed in which situation.
The simulation apparatus according to claim 3 can realize a simulation that makes it easy to understand which part of the apparatus is operating in addition to the effect of the simulation apparatus according to claim 2 described above. In addition, there is an advantage that an advantage that the work related to the simulation is easy can be obtained.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a simulation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is an example of a configuration diagram of a system that can be an application target (simulation target) of the simulation apparatus of the present invention.

  This system is a control device that performs specific control on a certain device, and is a test target using the simulation device of the present invention. And this system manages data (Data Management), takes an interface with the operator (User Interface), controls a specific command based on the operation of the operator (Command Control), and plays a role as “higher system” Based on the supervisory controller, supervisory controller, data and commands from the supervisory controller, and data from physical I / O (Physical I / O) such as various sensors (actuators) It is composed of a real-time controller that performs real-time control and plays the role of a “lower system”. The supervisory controller and the real-time controller exchange data with each other to realize specific control for a certain device and management of data related to the device.

  FIG. 2 is an example of a configuration diagram when the simulation apparatus of the present invention is applied to the above-described system. In this example, the supervisory controller applies a simulation device that replaces the real-time controller, and the real-time controller applies a supervisory controller and a simulation device that replaces physical I / O data, respectively. It shows that the test of each controller can be performed. It also shows that an integrated test of a supervisory controller and a real-time controller can be performed without using a real machine by applying a simulation device instead of physical I / O data.

  FIG. 3 is a more detailed example of a configuration diagram when the simulation apparatus of the present invention is applied to a certain system.

  The control device 2 is a control device that is included in, for example, an industrial machine and controls a main body portion of the industrial machine.

  Here, the simulation apparatus 1 plays the role of the main part of the above-described industrial machine, that is, the object to be controlled by the control apparatus 2, and includes a communication control mechanism 10, an input / output definition mechanism 11, a scenario mechanism 12, and data editing. It consists of a mechanism 13 and a data monitoring mechanism 14.

  The communication control mechanism 10 communicates the control device 2, the control signal 100, and the simulation signal 101. The control signal 100 is a signal that the control device 2 outputs to the target in order to perform predetermined control of the target to be controlled. The simulation signal 101 is a signal output to the control device 2 instead of being an object to be controlled by the control device 2. Details of the control signal 100 and the simulation signal 101 will be described later.

  The data editing mechanism 13 has a function of inputting arbitrary data into the simulation apparatus 1 by a specific operation such as key input by the operator of the simulation apparatus 1. Specifically, the data editing mechanism 13 is an input device such as a keyboard or a touch panel, a display device such as a CRT or LCD, or a medium such as a flexible disk or CD-ROM that holds data input by other input devices. It has various drive devices that read the data. The operator can use this data editing mechanism 13 to generate input / output definition data 102 and the like, which are information related to input / output components described later.

  By the way, the generation of the input / output definition data 102 by the data editing mechanism 13 means that an object to be controlled by the control device 2 such as a main body portion of the industrial machine in which the simulation device 1 plays the role, or the control The operator inputs predetermined data through the data editing mechanism 13 with reference to the specification (Specification) of the device 2 itself, and the input / output definition data 102 is generated based on the input data. Means. The main part of the industrial machine for which the simulation apparatus 1 plays the role is usually provided with an input means such as a sensor and an output means such as an actuator. An input signal from the means and an output signal to the output means are defined. More specifically, the input / output definition data 102 is composed of “signal name” such as digital / analog, “acquisition type” such as input / output, and “signal data content” such as ON / OFF or arbitrary numerical data. It is what is done.

  The input / output definition mechanism 11 takes in the input / output definition data 102 generated by the data editing mechanism 13 and generates the input / output signal information 103. At the same time, the data monitoring mechanism 14 having a display function has one or more button parts 200. The input / output component 104 including the lamp component 201, the volume component 202, and the indicator component 203 is output.

  The input / output definition mechanism 11 takes in the input / output definition data 102, and if the signal name of the signal defined by the input / output definition data 102 is “digital” and the input / output type is “input”, “digital input”. If the signal name is “digital” and the input / output type is “output”, the lamp part 201 labeled “digital output” is input to the button part 200 labeled “Analog”. If the type is “input”, the volume component 202 labeled “Analog input”, and if the signal name is “Analog” and the input / output type is “Output”, the indicator component labeled “Analog output” 203 is output to the data monitoring mechanism 14.

  The data monitoring mechanism 14 is mainly composed of a display device such as a so-called LCD. Outputting the input / output component 104 such as the button component 200 to the data monitoring mechanism 14 means that the display device constituting the data monitoring mechanism 14 has a shape corresponding to an actual input / output component such as a so-called button ( Image). Further, the button component 200 or the like inputs data related to the button component 200 or the like by a specific operation of the operator on the data monitoring mechanism 14, that is, the button component 200 or the like is turned on or off, for example. It is possible to switch and input data related thereto (ON / OFF simulation signal 304 and the like described later). For that purpose, it is desirable that the data monitoring mechanism is constituted by an input device such as a keyboard in addition to the display device, or the display device itself is constituted by a touch panel that also serves as the input device.

  When the button component 200 is operated from the data monitoring mechanism 14, the input / output definition mechanism 11 generates an ON / OFF simulation signal 304 (not shown) and when the volume component 202 is operated, the numerical data simulation signal 305 (not shown) is generated. Then, these signals are passed to the communication control mechanism. The ON / OFF simulation signal 304 here is data input by switching the ON / OFF state of the button component 200 on the data monitoring mechanism 14 as described above. The numerical data simulation signal 305 is arbitrary numerical data input by operating the volume component 202 on the data monitoring mechanism 14.

  The communication control mechanism 10 outputs a simulation signal 101 including the ON / OFF simulation signal 304 and the numerical data simulation signal 305 to the control device 2. The control device 2 receives the simulation signal 101 as a simulated input signal (hereinafter simply referred to as a simulation signal), interprets the simulation signal by the program processing mechanism 20 of the control device 2, and generates a corresponding control signal 100. Output to the simulation apparatus 1. The simulation apparatus 1 receives the control signal 100 via the communication control mechanism 10 and passes it to the input / output definition mechanism 11. The input / output definition mechanism 11 discriminates the signal name, input / output type, and signal data content of the control signal 100, and if the signal name is “digital” and the input / output type is “output”, the lamp component of the data monitoring mechanism 14 If the signal name is “analog” and the input / output type is “output” in 201, the value of each signal data content is displayed on the indicator component 203.

  The scenario mechanism 12 takes in one or more scenarios 105 generated by the data editing mechanism 13, generates one registered scenario information 204, one or more scenario content information 205 in the data monitoring mechanism 14, Rewrite them. The scenario 105 is the content of processing (for example, dialogue processing) between the control device and a target to be controlled by the control device. Specifically, the scenario 105 includes a command 300 for performing standby control (standby control command), a command 301 for performing branch control (branch control command), a command 302 for performing repetitive control (repetitive control command), and a command for performing data storage control. 303 (data storage control command). The registered scenario information 204 is information related to the registered scenario, that is, information in which the type of scenario generated by the data editing mechanism 13 is accumulated, and information indicating which scenario is currently selected and executed. is there. Further, the scenario content information 205 is the progress information of the currently selected scenario, that is, the command step information of the selected and executed scenario. In other words, which command is being executed in what situation. It is information to show.

  When one or more scenarios to be executed are selected from the registered scenario information 204 by an operator performing a specific operation on the data monitoring mechanism 14, the data monitoring mechanism 14 sends a scenario start signal 106 to the scenario mechanism 12. Is output.

  In response to this, the scenario mechanism 12 executes the commands 300 to 303 of the scenario 105 one by one. The standby control command 300 waits for a predetermined time or waits for a predetermined signal in the input / output signal information 103 of the input / output definition mechanism 11 to change to a predetermined value and executes the next commands 300 to 303. To do. The command 301 for performing branch control determines the value of a predetermined signal in the input / output signal information 103 and executes the following commands 300 to 303. The command 302 for performing repetitive control repeatedly executes one or a plurality of commands 300 to 303 in the repetitive range. The command 300 for performing data storage control stores a value in a predetermined signal of the input / output signal information 103 and executes the next command.

  Further, the scenario mechanism 12 outputs the input / output signal information 103 processed by the commands 300 to 303 of the scenario 105 to the data monitoring mechanism 14 and displays the input / output component 104.

  Further, the scenario mechanism 12 outputs a scenario execution state signal 107 to the data monitoring mechanism 14, and further selects the type of scenario generated by the data editing mechanism 13 so far from the registered scenario information 204 and is executed. Any scenario is displayed, for example, with a scenario name defined for each scenario. In addition, the scenario content information 205 displays which command of the scenario that is currently selected and executed is being executed in what situation.

  Here, in a certain system, when the operator presses the operation button 30, the control device 2 outputs the drive control signal 109 of the actuator 31, and the actuator 31 is driven accordingly, and after a predetermined time, the drive limit of the actuator 31. It is assumed that the limit switch 32 positioned at is input and the sensor input signal 110 is output to the control device 2. In the system, the simulation by the simulation apparatus 1 will be described with an example of an operation in which the control apparatus 2 turns off the output of the drive control signal 109.

  First, an operator inputs via the data editing mechanism 13 and, based on the input, an input composed of a button input signal 108 by the operation button 30, a drive control signal 109 for the actuator 31, and a sensor input signal 110 for the limit switch 32. Output definition data 102 is generated. Further, a command 303 for performing data storage control for generating the button input signal 108 as the simulation signal 101, a command 300 for performing standby control waiting for a predetermined time after the drive control signal 109 changes to ON, and the sensor input signal 110 for the simulation signal 101. The data editing mechanism 13 generates one scenario 105 (scenario name “scenario A”) composed of a command 303 for performing data storage control and a command 300 for performing standby control waiting for the drive control signal 109 to be turned off. Generate.

  Next, the input / output definition data 102 is taken into the input / output definition mechanism 11 and the scenario 105 is taken into the scenario mechanism 12, and the input / output component 104 is output to the data monitoring mechanism 14 to generate registration scenario information 204 and scenario content information 205. . A scenario 105 (scenario name “scenario A”) is selected from the registered scenario information 204 of the data monitoring mechanism 14.

  Further, a scenario start signal 106 is output to the scenario mechanism 12, and the scenario mechanism 12 executes the scenario 105 (scenario name “scenario A”). At this time, the scenario mechanism 12 outputs to the data monitoring mechanism 14 a scenario execution state signal 107 notifying that the scenario name “scenario A” is being executed and the command location of the scenario name “scenario A” currently being executed.

  Then, the data monitoring mechanism 14 writes information indicating that the scenario name “scenario A” is being executed from the scenario execution state signal 107 notified from the scenario mechanism 12 to the registered scenario information 204, and the scenario name “scenario A”. Is written in the scenario content information 205. The scenario mechanism 12 executes a command 209 for performing data storage control for changing the button input signal 108 of the scenario 105 (scenario name “scenario A”) to ON, and the simulation signal 101 for notifying the ON state of the button input signal 108. And output to the control device 2 via the communication control mechanism 10.

  The control device 2 receives the simulation signal 101 as a simulation signal, and outputs a control signal 100 that notifies the ON state of the drive control signal 109 from the program processing mechanism 20 of the control device 2 to the simulation device 1. The simulation apparatus 1 receives the ON state of the drive control signal 109 via the communication control mechanism 10 and passes it to the input / output definition mechanism 11. The scenario mechanism 12 executes a command 300 for performing standby control waiting for a predetermined time after the state of the drive control signal 109 of the input / output signal information 103 changes from OFF to ON. Next, a command 303 for performing data storage control for changing the sensor input signal 110 to ON is executed to generate a simulation signal 101 for notifying the ON state of the sensor input signal 110, and control is performed via the communication control mechanism 10. Output to device 2.

  Further, the control device 2 receives the simulation signal 101 as a simulation signal, and outputs a control signal 100 for notifying the OFF state of the drive control signal 109 from the program processing mechanism 20 of the control device 2 to the simulation device 1. The simulation apparatus 1 receives the OFF state of the drive control signal 109 via the communication control mechanism 10 and passes it to the input / output definition mechanism 11. The scenario mechanism 12 executes and completes a command 300 for performing standby control waiting for the state of the drive control signal 109 of the input / output signal information 103 to change from ON to OFF.

  Then, the scenario mechanism 12 notifies the data monitoring mechanism 14 by the scenario execution state signal 107 that the scenario 105 is completed. The data monitoring mechanism 14 writes that the scenario (scenario name “scenario A”) has been executed and completed in the registered scenario information 204 and the scenario content information 205.

  In the above description, the operator inputs via the data editing mechanism 13 and, based on the input, the button input signal 108 by the operation button 30, the drive control signal 109 of the actuator 31, and the sensor input signal 110 of the limit switch 32 are configured. An example in which the input / output definition data 102 is generated has been shown. However, the input / output definition data 102 is arbitrarily generated by the operator's input and is not limited to the above example.

Similarly, the scenario 105 is not limited to the above-described scenario (scenario name “scenario A”), and can be arbitrarily generated by an operator's input. Since the input / output definition data 102 can be arbitrarily generated via the data editing mechanism 13 in accordance with various system configurations, a highly versatile simulation can be realized.
In addition, by changing data that is easy to handle even for engineers who are not aware of software technology, such as scenarios consisting of input / output definition data and commands, it is possible to avoid countermeasures that involve software modification, and to Various control devices and various devices controlled by the control device can be applied as simulation targets while avoiding the problems involved. In addition, it is possible to respond to changes in the simulation target itself in a short time. In addition, it is possible to provide a simulation apparatus that can realize various interactive processes between a control device and a device controlled by the control apparatus even in the same simulation target, and can respond to changes in the interactive process in a short time. .
The scenario mechanism interprets a scenario that is the content of processing (for example, dialogue processing) between a control device and a target to be controlled by the control device, and specifically interprets the described commands in order. Accordingly, a corresponding response signal is generated in accordance with the input / output signal defined in the above input / output definition. As a result, it is possible to realize a simulation for performing interactive processing at an accurate timing. By registering scenarios having various contents in advance, it is possible to easily switch and execute simulations having various contents. In addition, it is possible to perform precise confirmation as to which command of the scenario being selected and executed is being executed in which situation.
The data monitoring mechanism has a function to display the image of the simulation target on the background of the screen of the display device, display the image of the simulation target input part on a button or slider, and display the output part of the image such as a lamp or indicator. It is desirable that If these buttons and lamps are laid out in combination with the image data to be simulated, a simulation that makes it easy to understand which part of the device is operating can be realized, and the operator can visually recognize it. The advantage that the work related to the simulation is easy can be obtained.

It is an example of the block diagram of the system which can become the object (simulation object) of application of the simulation apparatus of this invention. It is an example of the block diagram at the time of applying the simulation apparatus of this invention to a certain system. It is a more detailed example of the block diagram at the time of applying the simulation apparatus of this invention to a certain system. It is a conceptual diagram of the simulation apparatus which concerns on a prior art example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Simulation apparatus 2 ... Control apparatus 10 ... Communication control mechanism 11 ... Input / output definition mechanism 12 ... Scenario mechanism 13 ... Data editing mechanism 14 ... Data monitoring mechanism 20 ... Program processing mechanism 30 ... Operation button 31 ... Actuator 32 ... Limit switch 100 ... control signal 101 ... simulation signal 102 ... input / output definition data 103 ... input / output signal information 104 ... input / output component 105 ... scenario 106 ... scenario start signal 107 ... scenario execution state signal 108 ... button input signal 109 ... drive control signal 110 ... Sensor input signal 200 ... Button component 201 ... Lamp component 202 ... Volume component 203 ... Indicator component 204 ... Registration scenario information 205 ... Scenario content information 300 ... Standby control command 301 ... Branch control command 302 ... Repetitive control command 03 ... data storage control command

Claims (3)

  In a simulation device used for testing a control function of a control device, a communication mechanism having a function of communicating with the control device, a data monitoring mechanism having a display function, and input / output definition data which is information relating to an input / output component And a data editing mechanism that generates a scenario composed of one or more commands, and an input / output definition that generates input / output signal information based on the input / output definition data and outputs input / output components to the data monitoring mechanism A simulation apparatus comprising: a mechanism; and a scenario mechanism for capturing the scenario and executing the captured scenario based on the input / output signal information.   The scenario mechanism generates registered scenario information that is information related to the scenario registered in the data monitoring mechanism, and scenario content information that is related to the progress information of the selected and executed scenario, and rewrites them. The simulation apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The data monitoring mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the data monitoring mechanism has a function of displaying an image of a device that is a target of the simulation device and displaying an image of an input / output component in combination with the image. The simulation apparatus described.

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