Research and Development in Virtual Engineering

The VITES/AGENS software system developed by the Fraunhofer IFF makes it possible to program and test controllers in an early stage of a project: Functional operations are taught and tested on a virtual model and extensive safety functions are generated automatically. The basis for effective and efficient control program development is a virtual machine built out of CAD data in VINCENT software developed by the Fraunhofer IFF. It allows hardware-in-the-loop testing of a real controller on a virtual machine.

VITES enables programmers to generate desired motion sequences together with design engineers simply by demonstrating them on a virtual model. This automatically produces the program of the technological operation, which is immediately tested and optimized on the virtual model.

Teaching operations with VITES:

• Problem-driven specification of motion sequences on a virtual model
• Logical combination of motion sequences into a complete control operation
• Integration of virtual and real sensor signals
• Collaboration between design and control engineers with easier and more reliable transfer of know-how
• Automated code generation

AGENS facilitates predictive error analysis. Using the virtual model, problems relevant to safety or serious errors are identified. This prevents situations in which collisions occur or the emergency stop has to be activated. Thus, AGENS improves the functional safety of machines.

AGENS implements safety driven control cycles in a safety layer, thus eliminating unacceptable machine states:

• Operator errors do not have any negative consequences
• Programming is validated and the real controller starts with fully developed control programs

Simulate safety on a virtual machine:

• Collision avoidance through automated generation of safeguarded zones
• Rule-based formulation of correlations relevant to safety
• Automated code generation for functional safety

AGENS enables you to validate control code and equipment operation and to protect your equipment from damage.