New in Version 2.0

In the past the TwinCAT Simulation Manager ran the actual PLC/NC in a run-time system on the controller and the simulated process in another run-time system. Remote capability has now been integrated in Version 2.0 in order to ensure separation of the actual PLC/NC and the simulation process. The actual control system can thus run on the control computer and the simulation process on another PC. The link between control system and simulation process is realised in the so called "Distributed Simulation" via real-time Ethernet and the TwinCAT network variables - which guarantees a high performing deterministic data exchange.

Nevertheless if the Simulation runs on the same control computer, the realisation of the data transport is done transparently for the user via IO Process Image Mappings because these have less overhead in the local scenario. This is transparently hidden to the user and the appropriate data transfer protocol is chosen automatically by the TwinCAT Simulation manager dependant on the context - to reach the best possible performance.

For orchestration of the distributed control environment the TwinCAT Simulation Manager was extended with rich functionset and a lot of new user interface elements:

• A distributed navigation tree (Distributed configuration Navigator)
• Functions to assign and remove routes
• Browsing capabilities for the network (Intranet Broadcast search)
• Network debugging capabilities (Ping, ADS Ping), Controller State observer
• Caching and backup algorithms for (remote) Symbol und Controller configuration files
• Capabilities to assign network adapters for the simulation configuration
• Functions for Start, Stop and Restart distributed controllers orchestrated

Common Enhancements

• Not limited to one (local) simulation PLC anymore. Simulations can be freely assigned to controller PLC runtime systems.
• Support of .NET Framework 2.0
• Several enhancements of the User Interface