FlexSim PLC Emulation with Raspberry pi or Arduino

[chanykE2WUT]

[ FlexSim 19.2.3 ]

Hi

I am interested to look at FlexSim PLC Emulation with Raspberry pi or Arduino. Wonder if anyone has tested the concept or has some prototypes working on this field? I am thinking of creating a Lego mindstorm model of a production line that is controlled by the a/m controllers. And I would like to that to be emulated through FlexSim.

Regards

David

[tanner_p]

Hi @david.chan,

I don't know of anyone that has done this, but I'm curious. Would you download FlexSim onto the Raspberry Pi/Arduino? Or how would you communicate with it?

[SimFlex_support]

Hi. David.

Did you finish well the latest Asia Simulation Conference Show?

I have also interests about PLC Emulation with Arduino control and so bought Arduino Kit some month ago but I have not any chance recently to study it because of the end of year busy working.

Your thinking and study about it can be enough for application field using FlexSim, I think.

The Lego mindstorm is controlled by Arduino? I have not yet any information about LEGO mindstorm.

I will send email soon to you about HSW issue I promised after finishing my busy working. I think it will the end of this month.

All the best.

[chanykE2WUT]

Hi @tanner.p

Instead of using FlexSim to communicate with PLC, I am exploring if FlexSim can also talk to Rasperry Pi or Arduino. Both of these are controllers, some machines builders that using these controller to control their equipment instead of PLC. So that is the reason, I would like to explore this area.

@Seung Yong Seo

Yes. I have finished the show. Me too bought a Rasperry Pi from my trip to US, but haven't gotten them to hold it yet. Let me know if you have any development. I will post mine.

Thanks

David

[matt_long · Accepted solution]

The emulation module specifically uses PLC type protocols for communication, ie OPC and Modbus.If the arduino/raspberry pi is setup to run some kind of PLC emulator then FlexSim should be able to communicate with it. All you would need was the ip address of the arduino or raspberry pi. I don't know what would be involved in setting that up, however, it may be more efficient to create a library or some kind of module that would communicate directly with the controller's software rather than through an emulator.You can use some simple serial communications to send messages back and forth between FlexSim and the controller using C++.

[benjamin_w2]

Hi @david.chan,

Did Matt answer your quesiton? If so, please click Accept. If not, how else can we help?