Real-time EtherCAT® Network Simulation
Run an EtherCAT Controller with a Simulated Network
(PresseBox) - EC-Simulator virtualizes EtherCAT networks by simulating the EtherCAT slave devices in order to run EtherCAT Master applications without real EtherCAT slave hardware devices available.
EtherCAT simulation is possible via a physical network adapter, or also virtually, to realize a completely simulated machine setup. Configuring the simulation instance is seamless using the ENI file of the real network.
With EC-Simulator it is possible to react to Process Data (PDOs), send and receive Service Data (SDOs), interact with the Slave Stack, and more. This is all possible to be programmed via the API available for C/C++ or .NET, enabling the connection of EtherCAT data to various other professional software tools for the imitation of real-world systems.
Use Cases
Master Software Development
Run the EtherCAT Master application without real EtherCAT slave devices
Convenient and easy integration of the EtherCAT master stack software with the master application, for example, implement and test functions for slaves which aren't available
Enable implementing and testing of advanced EtherCAT features like Hot Connect, Firmware download via FoE, etc.
Validate the master application with different network configurations and topologies ? As simple as loading a different ENI file into EC-Simulator
User-friendly debugging of complex topologies and complicated scenarios with numerous varying slave types
Fieldbus Master Device Test
Replace manual test procedures by automatic programmable test procedures
Simulate slave errors like when a slave drops down from OP to SAFEOP state
Simulate cable breaks, frame loss, bad connections, etc.
Simulate large networks with many slaves and large amounts of process data
Simulate error scenarios at precise locations within the network, including before or after real slaves
Implement enhanced test scenarios like simulating topology changes
Virtual Commissioning
Develop and test applications based on a software emulation (Digital Twin) of the machine logic
Test and optimize the application at a very early stage of the development prior to having any real target hardware and devices
Test error scenarios that are dangerous and/or could lead to physical damage
Slave Firmware Development
Develop slave firmware before real hardware is available
EC-Simulator is based on the Beckhoff® EtherCAT Slave Stack ET9300, and all standard APPL_XXX() functions are available on the application layer
Develop firmware in Windows or Linux with a convenient and easy-to-use IDE
Use recorded network frames or generated test data as process data input for slave firmware
Capture and trace process data outputs and states to files
Test upload and download of parameters via CoE and VoE
Test firmware downloads via FoE
Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) Simulation
All slaves are simulated
In this scenarios the System-Under-Test (SUT) is communicating via a physical EtherCAT compliant cable with the EC-Simulator software running on an external hardware, referred to as the HiL System. The HiL System can be a standard PC or an embedded microprocessor as it doesn't require any special hardware. Just a standard Ethernet controller and interface can be used.
In this setup the EtherCAT master along with the master application requires no changes from how it is implemented when connected with real slaves, and can be tested using the standard physical Ethernet network interface.
Mix of real slaves and simulated slaves
A HiL System with one Ethernet port must be the last device on the network
A HiL System with multiple ports can be connected anywhere in the network, even between real slaves
Define the slaves to be simulated in acontis' EtherCAT configuration tool EC-Engineer. The resulting network configuration (ENI) contains all slaves, with the simulated slaves indicated as such.
Create a Digital Twin step-by-step: partly simulated combined with partly real slaves
Simulate error scenarios at any location, including before or after the real slaves
Software Architecture
The EC-Simulator software is available and ready-to-run on various operating systems (Linux, Windows, QNX, VxWorks, etc.) and makes use of the acontis Real-time Ethernet drivers, the so called acontis Link Layers
EC-Simulator offers a C/C++ language Application Programing Interface (API) for integration into the application.
Software-in-the-Loop (SiL) Simulation
In this scenarios the EtherCAT network is simulated by a software running on the System Under Test (SUT) and there is no need for a separate hardware.
Instead of communicating with the Ethernet Controller, the acontis EtherCAT Master software EC-Master is directly exchanging EtherCAT frames with the simulation software.
Software Architecture
EC-Simulator replaces the Ethernet controller driver normally used for the physical interface. No physical network interface required!
Programing Interface (API)
Process Data Provider
Numerous options are available for handling the process data in the application. The desired option can be selected individually for each slave.
Default implementation (Slave 1):
Process data logic implemented by customer application from process data image
Use integrated sample application (Slave 2):
Process data provided by sample application (e.g. CiA 402) instead of process data image
Behavior of sample application cannot be changed
Select “Sample application” in EC-Engineer
Implement own slave firmware (Slave 3):
Interface for developing and testing own slave firmware: Hook existing own APPL_XXX() slave functions to own code
Control EtherCAT State Machine, handle process, CoE objects
Network Operations
Change the network topology
Disconnect/connect/move a slave
Power down/up a slave
Change a slave state like switching to PREOP state
API to simulate lost frames at a specific slave / port
API to simulate a lost link at a specific slave / port
Diagnosis Functions
API to read and write slave registers, for example, read slave states
API to read and write slave EEPROM content
API to read simulator object dictionary
API to evaluate the network topology
RAS server for connecting EC-Lyser or EC-Engineer
Features
Slaves with and without mailbox protocol support
Mailbox protocol CAN application protocol over EtherCAT (CoE)
PDO configuration and assignment commands via CoE
Mailbox protocol Vendor over EtherCAT (VoE)
Mailbox protocol File access over EtherCAT (FoE)
Support for all mailbox initialization commands
Basic object dictionary
Support for distributed clocks
Supported Masters: acontis EC-Master, Beckhoff TwinCAT®, CoDeSys®
More information
Please request additional information in the acontis technologies download area
Acontis technologies, based in Ravensburg Germany, was founded in 2001 by the todays managers Christoph Widmann and Stefan Zintgraf.
As a leading provider for EtherCAT® software and Windows® Real-time solutions acontis serves customers in the sectors machine builders, medical technology, automation, semiconductors and robotics.
In the future, expansion in the EtherCAT and real-time businesses are plant as well as new investments in the area of Time Sensitive Networking and OPC UA.
Our company is known for high quality products "Made in Germany". The product portfolio is supplemented by professional Training-, Support- and Software Services.
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Acontis technologies, based in Ravensburg Germany, was founded in 2001 by the todays managers Christoph Widmann and Stefan Zintgraf.
As a leading provider for EtherCAT® software and Windows® Real-time solutions acontis serves customers in the sectors machine builders, medical technology, automation, semiconductors and robotics.
In the future, expansion in the EtherCAT and real-time businesses are plant as well as new investments in the area of Time Sensitive Networking and OPC UA.
Our company is known for high quality products "Made in Germany". The product portfolio is supplemented by professional Training-, Support- and Software Services.
Datum: 27.07.2022 - 08:00 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 664457
Anzahl Zeichen: 8646
contact information:
Contact person: Ronnie Schele
Town:
Ravensburg
Kategorie:
Manufacturing & Production
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