Glossary · Engineering, integration and validation
Simulation
Also known as: Computer simulation
German: Simulation
In engineering, simulation is the reproduction of the behavior of a system or process in a model, so that it can be analyzed, tested or trained with before or instead of using the real system. In automation, simulation is used for design, software testing, virtual commissioning and operator training.
- Validation
In one sentence
Simulation reproduces a system's behavior in a model to analyze, test or train before or instead of using the real system.
Example
A simulation of the warehouse conveyor system shows that the planned sorter cannot handle the peak throughput, before any hardware is ordered.
How it applies
- Engineering: Simulations support design decisions, such as sizing, throughput and layout, and let engineers compare alternatives cheaply.
- Testing: In Software-in-the-loop (SIL) and Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) setups, control software is tested against simulated plants, including fault scenarios.
- Commissioning: Virtual commissioning uses simulation to shift commissioning work into the office.
- Documentation: The documentation team documents the purpose, assumptions, model version and validity limits of each simulation used as evidence and can use simulations for screenshots and training material.
Simulation vs. the real system
A simulation is only as good as its model. Results must be checked against real behavior (model validation), and safety functions must be verified on the real equipment. Simulated data is also used to train Machine learning (ML) models, with the same caution about how well it represents reality.