Streamline 3D simulation model development for virtual commissioning with IEC61499

Current discrete manufacturing systems are characterized by an ever-increasing complexity, demanding for innovative solutions, capable to optimize performances while increasing the resilience and the capability to adapt to production modifications. With such a background, changing perspective to deal with distributed modular architectures of Cyber Physical Systems is mandatory, and the IEC 61499 standard, its object oriented, and event-based approaches promote this paradigm shift. The multidisciplinary nature of the CPS entities and the possibility to exploit their digital counterparts, paves the way for the development of enhanced decision-support systems like the ones dedicated to Virtual Commissioning (VC). VC supports the automation developer in evaluating the impact of different management strategies, increasing the reliability of the final control applications, while reducing the amount of time to carry on physical tests on the real mechatronic system. However, creating a virtual commissioning model is still a complex and potentially expensive process that needs to be carried out by different professionals who must tightly cooperate to generate an effective playground for the automation testing. We propose a new approach to the design and develop virtual commissioning models, that, leveraging the synergies between modular simulation and IEC 61499 automation technologies, aims at improving the efficiency of the overall process of implementing 3D simulation digital twins for complex automated discrete manufacturing systems. The paper describes an open architecture, composed of reference data models and software API, and presents a proof-of-concept implementation of an integrated engineering platform of VC models.