Visualization, Simulation and Validation for Cyber-Virtual Systems

We present our framework for visualization, simulation and validation of cyber-physical systems in industrial automation during development, operation and maintenance. System models may represent an existing physical part – for example an existing robot installation – and a software simulated part – for example a possible future extension of the physical industrial automation setup. We call such systems cyber-virtual systems. Here, we present our VxLab infrastructure for visualization using combined large screens and its applications in industrial automation. The methodology for simulation and validation motivated in this paper is based on this infrastructure. We are targeting scenarios, where industrial sites which may be in remote locations are modeled, simulated and visualized. Modeling, simulation and the visualization can be done from different locations anywhere in the world. Here, we are also concentrating on software modeling challenges related to cyber-virtual systems and simulation, testing, validation and verification techniques applied to them. Software models of industrial sites require behavioral models of both human and machine oriented aspects such as workflows and the components of the industrial sites such as models for tools, robots, workpieces and other machinery as well as communication and sensor facilities. Furthermore, facilitating collaboration between sites and stakeholders, experts and operators is an important application of our work. This paper is an extension of our previously published work [1].