Patent ID: 7346478
Filing Date: 2008-03-18
Classification: G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of designing a control system and using data from a design of the control system to enable programmable logic control verification simulation of programmable logic controller code for the control system, said method comprising the steps of: constructing at least one mechanical fixture design, workcell design, and a controls design using a computer; exporting mechanical fixture data from the mechanical fixture design, workcell data from the workcell design, and control data from the controls design and aligning the mechanical fixture data, workcell data, and control data with each other using the computer to be useable by a virtual programmable logic control (VPLC) verification simulator; and executing a VPLC simulation with the VPLC verification simulator using the mechanical fixture data, workcell data, and control data with the computer to verify the mechanical fixture design, the workcell design, and the controls design meet an intent of a design for the control system.