Yokogawa Releases Simulation Software for its PLCs to Improve the Efficiency of Control Program Debugging

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that it has developed Virtual-M3, a simulation software tool for the Yokogawa FA-M3V range-free multi-controller, and is releasing it on May 17th. With this simulation software, a virtual debugging environment can be established on a PC to debug application control programs for the FA-M3V without having to use an actual multi-controller and I/O devices.

Product features include as follows:

1. Dynamic I/O generator

   Virtual-M3 constructs a debugging environment that consists of a virtual CPU module and virtual I/O modules. The former simulates the behavior of the CPU module on an actual FA-M3V unit, and the latter reproduces the behavior of the I/O modules on the FA-M3V and the target devices. Without having to use the actual devices, Virtual-M3 performs the same kind of simulations done using the conventional debugging technique. Thus, this simulation software is ideal for developing new equipment. Also, there is no need to shut down the actual equipment to debug their control programs or conduct failure analyses.

   2. Link with HMI software

   When debugging control programs for the FA-M3V, Virtual-M3's virtual CPU can be linked with the application software for the HMIs of programmable indicating controllers and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software. The programmable indicating controller software can also be debugged in this configuration.

2. Step operation

   Using a step operation function, Virtual-M3 can perform debugging operations that are impossible using conventional debugging techniques that require the actual hardware. These operations include running repeated tests on selected program segments; the execution of command, circuit, and scan operations one-step at a time; and the skipping or restarting of programs.

3. Real-time monitoring of program execution

   Yokogawa offers the WideField3 program development tool for writing, debugging, and managing FA-M3V applications. WideField3 now supports Virtual-M3 and Windows 10. Using both Virtual-M3 and WideField3 with Live Logic Analyzer, which is a near real-time logic analysis function, it is possible to display data showing the status of a PLC program as it runs on a sequence CPU module. This improves work efficiency by enabling engineers to monitor a program's execution status while they collect the program execution data.

    

Major target markets include manufacturers of electronic component/equipment assembly systems and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

Keywords: Simulation Software, Debugging Environment, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Real-Time Logic Analysis, ARC Advisory Group.