Advantages in the engineering stage

Smart engineering

Simulations help avoid unnecessary work in the automation process in the engineering stage, and realize projects efficiently. Both during software development and testing, conventional tools quickly reach their limits, and representations become too convoluted. Examples include executable models that can be simulated and tested without further transformation, or an intuitive 3D visualization.

Model-based software development for wind turbine pitch drives

Real-world example from wind turbine manufacturing

Initial situation:
The development of control software or signal flow software for embedded systems such as driver controllers places special demands on the specification and testing of the software. Classic specification methods (e.g. UML) or testing methods (e.g. unit testing) quickly reach the limits of what they can do, and representations become too convoluted.

The solution:
The specification of the functions is done primarily as signal flow diagrams that can be simulated and tested without further transformation (=> executable specifications).

Details on the solution:
Simulation testing can be performed even before the target hardware is available. Environment models can be used to also test the functions in closed-loop operation. In the further course of the development process, C code is generated from the developed functional models, which is then integrated into the build process for the target hardware.

Result:
Regression testing can be performed without complex mechanical test rigs and without power or supervision. The models created as part of the development process can be used for validation purposes, with only minor adjustments required.