Simulating fieldbus applications with DRUGH simulator

Abstract Control applications constitute an important class of systems which use fieldbus networks for communication support. In this paper, we explain the special characteristics of such systems and stress the need for a simulator for such applications. The drugh simulator, developed for this purpose at our institute, is presented. drugh uses the synchronous programming model (extensively used for developing parallel and distributed algorithms), integrates a real-time protocol, and facilitates the development and off-line testing of real-time applications. The paper describes the structure and the functions offered by the simulator. The simulator was developed along with a physical real-time network, Phoebus IIx, and therefore, also served as a testbed for the protocol implementation.