KR102282850B1 - System for Evaluating Communication Performance Between Soft PLC and IO Device Using Robot Process Automation - Google Patents

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a system for evaluating communication performance between an input/output (I/O) device and soft PLC by using robot process automation can automatically set an I/O device and evaluate communication performance between the I/O device and soft PLC. The system comprises: a script generation unit for generating an automated script including a verification task for verification of a test I/O device; a script execution unit for performing the verification task by executing the automated script; a first module which is connected to a verified target I/O device and generates a confirmation signal based on a verification signal received through the target I/O device in accordance with the execution of the verification task; and a second module which is connected to the test I/O device, generates the verification signal in accordance with the execution of the verification task, provides the same to the first module, and evaluates the performance of the test I/O device by comparing the confirmation signal, received from the first module through the test I/O device, with the verification signal.

Description

System for Evaluating Communication Performance Between Soft PLC and IO Device Using Robot Process Automation

The present invention relates to a PLC, and more particularly to a soft PLC.

PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is a control device used for automatic control and monitoring of industrial plants. PLC logically processes input data sequentially by a program and uses the output result to control an external device connected to the PLC. PLC is implemented as a program to realize desired control and operation by interfacing with various external devices according to industrial sites requiring control and operation, and these programs are downloaded to PLC dedicated hardware (H/W) and perform their functions. .

Since the existing PLC is installed in a general embedded computer, many restrictions are inevitable, so a soft PLC implemented by loading software on an Industrial PC (IPC) has been proposed. Since soft PLC is implemented based on an industrial computer, memory capacity, program execution cycle, and various interfaces can be used more efficiently and flexibly.

When a new input/output device (eg, digital input/output device or analog input/output device) is connected to such a soft PLC, setting and performance verification of the connected input/output device are required.

In the past, when a new input/output device was to be connected to the soft PLC, there was no systematic procedure or separate verification device, so it was necessary to set the input/output device in different ways according to the engineer’s personal know-how, and The verification results had no choice but to rely on the engineers' self-evaluation.

In addition, even if the performance of the input/output device can be verified according to the engineer's personal know-how, the accuracy of the verification result cannot be guaranteed, and the number of tests that the engineer can directly perform is limited, making repeated performance verification impossible. there was

The present invention is to solve the above problems, and provides a communication performance verification system between the input/output device and the soft PLC using robot process automation that can automatically perform the setting of the input/output device and the communication performance verification between the input/output device and the soft PLC make it a technical task.

Another technical task of the present invention is to provide a communication performance verification system between an input/output device and a soft PLC using robot process automation that can repeatedly perform performance verification of an input/output device using robot process automation.

A communication performance verification system between an input/output device and a soft PLC using robot process automation according to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is a script generation that generates an automated script including a verification task for verification of the test input/output device wealth; a script execution unit that executes the automation script to perform the verification task; a first module connected to the target input/output device for which verification has been completed, and generating a verification signal based on a verification signal received through the target input/output device according to the execution of the verification task; and connected to the test input/output device, generating the verification signal according to the execution of the verification task, providing the verification signal to the first module, and receiving the verification signal and the verification signal received from the first module through the test input/output device and a second module that compares and verifies the performance of the test input/output device.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the communication performance verification of the test input/output device can be automatically performed through the execution of the verification task included in the automation script, even an engineer without expertise in the performance verification of the test input/output device can perform performance It has the effect of being able to perform verification and guaranteeing a certain performance verification result without deviation due to the engineer's technical proficiency or inexperienced operation.

In addition, according to the present invention, communication performance verification and setting of the test input/output device can be automatically performed using robot process automation, and there is an effect that the test input/output device can be easily installed in the soft PLC even if you are not an expert.

In addition, according to the present invention, since communication performance verification of the test input/output device can be repeatedly performed, there is an effect that the time required for the communication performance verification operation of the test input/output device can be remarkably reduced.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously perform input/output device setting and communication performance verification in multiple soft PLCs using robot process automation, thereby maximizing the reduction of time invested in input/output device setting and communication performance verification work. there is an effect that

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a communication performance verification system between an input/output device and a soft PLC using robot process automation according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a diagram illustrating a method in which a task setting unit generates a plurality of events constituting a setting task according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a diagram illustrating a method in which a task setting unit generates a plurality of events constituting a verification task according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram showing an example of a digital verification signal.
5A is a diagram showing an example of a verification signal generated in the form of a step.
5B is a diagram showing an example of a verification signal generated in the form of a sine wave.

Like reference numerals refer to substantially identical elements throughout. In the following description, detailed descriptions of configurations and functions known in the art and cases not related to the core configuration of the present invention may be omitted. The meaning of the terms described herein should be understood as follows.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in a variety of different forms, and only these embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs It is provided to fully inform the possessor of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

The shapes, sizes, proportions, angles, numbers, etc. disclosed in the drawings for explaining the embodiments of the present invention are exemplary, and thus the present invention is not limited to the illustrated matters. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In addition, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known technology may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When 'including', 'having', 'consisting', etc. mentioned in this specification are used, other parts may be added unless 'only' is used. When a component is expressed in the singular, the case in which the plural is included is included unless otherwise explicitly stated.

In interpreting the components, it is interpreted as including an error range even if there is no separate explicit description.

In the case of a description of the positional relationship, for example, when the positional relationship of two parts is described as 'on', 'on', 'on', 'beside', etc., 'right' Alternatively, one or more other parts may be positioned between the two parts unless 'directly' is used.

In the case of a description of a temporal relationship, for example, 'immediately' or 'directly' when a temporal relationship is described with 'after', 'following', 'after', 'before', etc. It may include cases that are not continuous unless this is used.

Although the first, second, etc. are used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. Accordingly, the first component mentioned below may be the second component within the spirit of the present invention.

The term “at least one” should be understood to include all possible combinations from one or more related items. For example, the meaning of “at least one of the first, second, and third items” means each of the first, second, or third items as well as two of the first, second and third items. It may mean a combination of all items that can be presented from more than one.

Each feature of the various embodiments of the present invention may be partially or wholly combined or combined with each other, technically various interlocking and driving are possible, and each of the embodiments may be implemented independently of each other or may be implemented together in a related relationship. may be

Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a communication performance verification system between an input/output device and a soft PLC using robot process automation according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the communication performance verification system (10, hereinafter referred to as 'communication performance verification system') between the input/output device and the soft PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) using robot process automation is a soft PLC 100, It includes a test input/output device 200 and a target input/output device 300 .

The soft PLC 100 is implemented in a software form by mounting a PLC application on an industrial computer (Industrial PC: IPC), and by performing a control operation according to the implemented logic for controlling devices to be controlled, an industrial plant automatic control and monitoring of As described above, in the present invention, the memory capacity, program execution cycle, various interfaces, and the like can be used more efficiently and flexibly by implementing the existing PLC as a software type and mounting it on an industrial computer.

In particular, the soft PLC 100 according to the present invention includes a script generating unit 110 to automatically perform the setting and communication performance verification of the test input/output device 200 using a robot process automation (RPA); It includes a script execution unit 120 , a first module 130 , a second module 140 , a third module 150 , a test communication card 160 , and a target communication card 170 .

Robot process automation is a solution that records the user's work pattern, stores it as an automation script, and then plays it back to replace human work. A robot (software) is installed on the user's computer with various work software such as a mail client installed. Therefore, it refers to software that re-executes repetitive or standardized tasks as automated automation scripts.

Therefore, in the present invention, by writing and executing the communication performance verification task of the test input/output device 200 and the setting task of the test input/output device 200 as an automated script, the communication performance verification task and the setting task of the test input/output device 200 are reduced in the present invention. to be performed automatically and repeatedly by the robot.

The script generating unit 110 generates an automated script including a setting task for setting the test input/output device 200 and a verification task for verifying communication performance of the test input/output device 200 . An automation script means a document written to enable a robot to automatically perform repetitive or standardized tasks performed by a user. By executing the automation script by the robot, the task to be performed by the user can be reproduced in the same way as the user does.

In one embodiment, the script generating unit 110 provides a tool (eg, an automated script editor) for script generation to a user to generate an automated script, and the user uses the script editor to generate a processor (Process) and a task (Task). ), and by performing debugging after setting at least one of the events in detail, it is possible to generate an automation script.

An event set through an automation script means an event that the operating system (OS) generates regardless of the user's arbitrary action on a specific object or the user's will. , window object detection, web object detection, UI (User Interface) object detection, image detection, OCR (Optical Character Reader) detection, key input, or mouse input.

In addition, a task set through an automation script means a unit execution action of a user composed of one or more events, and a process means a unit computing task of a user composed of one or more tasks.

In the present invention, the setting of the test input/output device 200 and the communication performance verification task may be configured as one process. In another embodiment, the setting of the test input/output device 200 may be configured as one process, and the communication performance verification task of the test input/output device 200 may be configured with another process. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, it is assumed that the setting and communication performance verification tasks of the test input/output device 200 are configured as one process.

The script generating unit 110 may include a process setting unit 112 , a task setting unit 114 , and a script manufacturing unit 116 as shown in FIG. 1 .

The process setting unit 112 provides a function for setting and editing a process to the user. For example, the process setting unit 112 provides a process editor capable of setting and editing a process to the user, and the user creates or selects one or more tasks through the process editor, and sets properties, execution conditions, execution order, etc. Decide to set up the process. To this end, the process editor may include a task creation manager that manages creation of one or more tasks, a task property manager that manages properties of one or more tasks, a task connection manager that manages interconnection of one or more tasks, and the like.

In particular, the process setting unit 112 according to the present invention provides a process editor to the user to create a setting task for setting the test input/output device 200 and a verification task for verifying communication performance, and the user can use the process setting unit A setting task and a verification task are created through the process editor provided through 112, and their properties, execution conditions, execution order, and the like are set. In this case, the attribute of the task may be at least one of the name of the task, input data, input method, output data, output method, processing time, and delay time, and the execution condition is execution when a preset preceding task is finished, and a preset When input data is received, it may include at least one of execution and execution at a preset execution time. In the order of execution, each task becomes an input and output relationship in succession, and a plurality of tasks are interconnected, so that one process can be created.

More specifically, the user creates a setting task for setting the test input/output device 200 and a verification task for verifying the communication performance of the test input/output device 200 through the process editor, and sets properties, execution conditions, etc., respectively , determine the execution order by connecting these tasks with arrows.

In one embodiment, the process setting unit 112 sets the execution order so that the setting task for setting the test input/output device 200 is first executed, and then the verification task for verifying the communication performance of the test input/output device 200 is executed. can decide

The task setting unit 114 provides a function for setting and editing a task to the user. For example, the task setting unit 114 provides a task editor capable of setting and editing a task to the user, and the user creates or selects one or more events through the task editor and sets properties, execution conditions, execution order, etc. Decide and set the task.

According to this embodiment, the user creates one or more events through the task editor provided by the task setting unit 114 and sets their properties, execution conditions, execution order, and the like. In one embodiment, the properties of the event include the name of the event, a target (eg, text, image, object, file), an execution method (eg, object detection, key input, mouse input), and execution result (eg, simple execution, text storage, image storage, file generation), and at least one of an execution time, and the execution condition is executed when a preset precedent event ends, execution after a predetermined time has elapsed when a preset precedent event ends, and a preset execution time It may include at least one of the executions at execution time. In the execution order, each event becomes an input and output relationship in succession, so that a plurality of events are interconnected, so that one task can be created.

In particular, the task setting unit 114 according to the present invention generates a plurality of events constituting the setting task for setting the test input/output device 120 and a task editor for generating a plurality of events constituting the verification task. , and the user generates a plurality of events constituting each task through the task editor provided by the task setting unit 114 and sets their properties, execution conditions, execution order, and the like.

Hereinafter, generation of a plurality of events constituting the setting task and the verification task will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 .

2 is a diagram illustrating a method in which a task setting unit generates a plurality of events constituting a setting task according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the task setting unit 114 provides an object for the first module 130 to input the model name of the test input/output device 200 and the IP address of the soft PLC 100 to the user. Provided event (E1-1), access event (E1-2) for allowing the first module 130 to access the manufacturer homepage of the test input/output device 200 based on the model name input through the object (E1-2), the first module 130 ) download event (E1-3) for downloading the installation file of the test input/output device 200 from the manufacturer's website, and the first module 130 installs the downloaded installation file on the soft PLC 100 to install the software PLC ( An installation event (E1-4) for installing the test input/output device 200 in 100) is generated.

Thereafter, the task setting unit 114 sets the properties or execution conditions of each generated event, and determines the execution order by connecting the events with arrows.

In FIG. 2 , key events for setting the test input/output device 200 are mainly listed for convenience of explanation, but in actual implementation, more detailed events may be further included in the first task.

3 is a diagram illustrating a method in which a task setting unit generates a plurality of events constituting a verification task according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The task setting unit 114 includes a verification signal generation event E2-1 that causes the second module 140 to generate a verification signal of a predetermined form for verification of the test input/output device 200, and the second module 140 A verification signal transmission event (E2-2) for transmitting the generated verification signal to the third module 150, a verification signal reception event (E2-3) for causing the third module 150 to receive the verification signal, the third Confirmation signal generation event (E2-4) causing the module 150 to generate a confirmation signal based on the received confirmation signal, confirmation signal causing the third module 150 to transmit the confirmation signal to the second module 140 The transmission event (E2-5), the confirmation signal reception event (E2-6) causing the second module 140 to receive the confirmation signal, and the second module 140 compare the received confirmation signal with the verification signal to test input/output A verification event E2-7 for verifying the communication performance of the device 200 is generated.

Thereafter, the task setting unit 114 sets the properties or execution conditions of each generated event, and determines the execution order by connecting the events with arrows. At this time, the task setting unit 114 sets each of the events E2-1 to E2-7 as arrows so that the generated events E2-1 to E2-7 can be executed in the order shown in FIG. 3 . can connect

In one embodiment, the task setting unit 114 according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3 , the verification task may be repeatedly executed N times by repeatedly performing a plurality of events included in the verification task, and this Through this, the communication performance verification task of the test input/output device 200 can be repeatedly performed. According to this embodiment, the task setting unit 114 may store a result of performing N iterations of the verification task as a log.

On the other hand, the above-described process setting unit 112 and task setting unit 114 records the behavior pattern of the user executing the process and task to generate process recording material and task recording material (for reference, computing environment information is reflected) And, on the basis of the process/task recording data, attributes of processes and tasks, execution conditions, execution order, etc. can be extracted.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the setting and communication performance verification of the test input/output device 200 can be automatically performed using the robot processor automation technique, there is no expert knowledge about the performance verification of the test input/output device 200 . The engineer can also perform the setting and performance verification of the test input/output device 200 , and can guarantee a certain performance verification result without deviation due to the engineer's technical proficiency or inexperienced operation.

In addition, according to the present invention, the communication performance verification of the test input/output device 200 can be repeatedly performed, so that the time required for the communication performance verification operation of the test input/output device 200 can be drastically reduced, and a plurality of software Since the setting and communication performance verification of input/output devices connected to the PLC 100 can be simultaneously performed, it is possible to maximize the reduction of the time invested in setting the input/output device and verifying the communication performance.

Referring back to FIG. 1 , the script production unit 116 creates an automation script so that the processes and tasks set by the user through the process setting unit 112 and the task setting unit 114 can be actually automatically executed.

In addition, the script production unit 116 interworks with the script execution unit 120 to verify that one or more events constituting the task can operate normally in the actual execution order, and debugs, and similarly, one or more tasks constituting the process. Debugging is verified by verifying that the program can operate normally in the actual execution order.

The script production unit 116 may transmit the automation script to the script execution unit 120 so that the generated automation script can be actually executed, and store the automation script for later reuse and management.

The script execution unit 120 actually executes the automated script generated by the script generation unit 110 so that the setting and communication performance verification tasks of the test input/output device 200 can be automatically executed. Specifically, the script execution unit 120 receives the automation script from the script generation unit 110, interprets the received automation script to determine attributes, execution conditions, priority, etc. for each event, task, and process, and Schedule the execution sequence. In addition, the script execution unit 120 executes the task by sequentially executing each event according to the execution order, and also executes the process by executing each task according to the execution order.

The first module 130 sequentially executes a plurality of events constituting the setting task included in the automation script according to the execution of the automation script by the script execution unit 120 .

Specifically, the first module 130 provides an object for inputting the model name of the test input/output device 200 and the IP address of the soft PLC 100 to the user according to the order shown in FIG. 2 described above. Thereafter, when the model name of the test input/output device 200 and the IP address of the soft PLC 100 are input through the object, the first module 130 accesses the manufacturer homepage of the test input/output device 200 based on the IP address and , download the installation file of the test input/output device 200 corresponding to the model name of the test input/output device 200 from the manufacturer's website. Thereafter, the first module 130 installs the test input/output device 200 in the soft PLC 100 by installing the downloaded installation file in the soft PLC 100 .

The second module 140 and the third module 150 sequentially execute a plurality of events constituting the verification task included in the automation script according to the execution of the automation script by the script execution unit 120 by operating in conjunction with each other. .

To this end, the second module 140 is connected to the test input/output device 200 through the test communication card 160 , and the third module 150 is connected to the target input/output device 300 through the target communication card 170 . Connected.

First, according to the execution of the verification task, the second module 140 first generates a verification signal in a predetermined form for verification of the test input/output device 200 as shown in FIG. 3 .

In an embodiment, the second module 140 may generate a digital verification signal for verification of the target input/output device 200 . An example of the digital verification signal generated by the second module 140 is shown in FIG. 4 . As shown in FIG. 4 , the second module 140 may sequentially generate a plurality of verification signals having different bytes.

In another embodiment, the second module 140 may generate the verification signal in an analog form. An example of an analog verification signal generated by the second module 140 is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B . The second module 140 may generate the verification signal in the form of a step as shown in FIG. 5A or in the form of a sine wave as shown in FIG. 5B . When the verification signal is generated, the second module 140 outputs the generated verification signal to the test input/output device 200 through the test communication card 160 .

In one embodiment, when generating the verification signal in analog form, the second module 140 converts the verification signal into a digital signal and outputs it through the test communication card 160 and the test input/output device 200 . there is.

The third module 150 receives the verification signal generated by the second module 140 through the target input/output device 300 and the target communication card 180 . In one embodiment, the third module 150 has a digital form received through the target input/output device 300 and the target communication card 180 when an analog verification signal is generated by the second module 140 . It is possible to restore the verification signal in the analog form back to the verification signal.

Thereafter, the third module 150 generates a confirmation signal based on the received verification signal. In one embodiment, when the verification signal is a signal generated in an analog form, the third module 150 may generate the verification signal by scaling the verification signal received at the time of generating the verification signal by a predetermined ratio. there is. In another embodiment, when the verification signal is a digitally generated signal, the third module 130 shifts the bits in binary form from the verification signal received when generating the verification signal to the left by a predetermined number (or number of times). A confirmation signal can be generated by shifting. For example, if the verification signal is “00001010” and it is determined to shift the bits to the left twice, the third module 130 confirms the configuration of “00101000” by shifting the bits of the verification signal “00001010” to the left twice signal can be generated.

In this case, the predetermined ratio and the number of bits to be shifted may be set differently for each reception time of each verification signal. Through this, the third module 150 can distinguish the verification signals received for each reception cycle from each other.

In the above-described embodiment, the third module 150 shifts the bits of the verification signal by a predetermined number or scales the verification signal when generating the verification signal, but in another embodiment, the third module 150 may generate a confirmation signal by adding a unique key value assigned to each reception cycle of the verification signal to the verification signal when generating the verification signal.

Thereafter, the third module 150 outputs the generated confirmation signal through the target communication card 180 and the target input/output device 300 . In this case, when the confirmation signal is an analog signal, the third module 150 may convert the confirmation signal into a digital signal and output it.

The second module 140 receives the confirmation signal generated by the third module 150 through the test input/output device 200 and the test communication card 160 . In this case, when the confirmation signal is an analog signal, the third module 150 may restore the received confirmation signal to an analog signal.

Thereafter, the second module 140 restores the verification signal based on the received verification signal. In an embodiment, when the confirmation signal is a signal generated in an analog form, the second module 140 may restore the verification signal by inversely scaling the confirmation signal by a predetermined ratio. In another embodiment, when the confirmation signal is a digitally generated signal, the second module 140 may restore the verification signal by shifting the bits of the binary number in the confirmation signal to the right by a predetermined number. For example, in the example of the generation of the confirmation signal described above, when the confirmation signal composed of “00101000” is generated by shifting bits to the left twice from the verification signal composed of “00001010”, the second module 140 is By shifting the bits of the confirmation signal “00101000” to the right twice again, the verification signal composed of “00001010” can be restored.

As another example, when a predetermined key value is added to the confirmation signal, the second module 140 may restore the verification signal by removing the predetermined key value from the confirmation signal.

Thereafter, the second module 140 verifies the communication state of the test input/output device 200 by comparing the restored verification signal with the verification signal generated by the second module 140 .

In one embodiment, the second module 140 determines whether the restored verification signal is the same as the verification signal generated by itself when the verification signal is generated in digital form, and when the verification signal is the same, the communication of the test input/output device 200 is the same. It can be judged that the performance is sound.

In another embodiment, when the second module 140 generates the verification signal in an analog form, it determines whether the restored verification signal is the same as the verification signal it generates, or the representative value of the restored verification signal is its own. Communication performance of the test input/output device 200 may be verified by determining whether or not it is within an error range of the representative value of the generated verification signal. At this time, if the restored verification signal is the same as the verification signal generated by the second module 140 or the representative value of the restored verification signal is within the error range of the representative value of the verification signal generated by the second module 140, the test input/output device ( 200), it can be judged that the communication performance is sound.

In an embodiment, when the verification signal has a step form as shown in FIG. 5A , the representative value may be determined as at least one of GEN_Cycle_Set, GEN_STEP, AM_Xout_Min, and AM_Xout_Max. At this time, GEN_Cycle_Set indicates a parameter that sets the time (or length) for which one step is maintained, GEN_STEP indicates a parameter that sets the height of one step, and AM_Xout_Min indicates the minimum value at which the step waveform starts. Indicates a parameter, and AM_Xout_Max indicates a parameter that sets the maximum value of the step waveform. When the step waveform reaches AM_Xout_Max, the waveform is reset to the minimum value.

In another embodiment, when the verification signal is in the form of a sine wave as shown in FIG. 5B , representative values may be determined as GEN_PT, GEN_OS, GEN_DL, and GEN_AM. At this time, GEN_PT represents the period of one cycle of the sine wave, GEN_OS represents the offset (offset in the amplitude direction) of the sine wave, GEN_DL represents the amplitude of the sine wave, and GEN_AM is the starting point ( Start Point) delay ratio.

Referring back to FIG. 1 , the test communication card 160 connects the test input/output device 200 and the second module 140 , and the target communication card 170 connects the target input/output device 300 and the third module 150 . ) to connect In one embodiment, the test communication card 160 and the target communication card 170 is a communication that supports at least one communication protocol of Profibus (Profibus-DP), ProfiNet (ProfiNet), or EtherCAT (EtherCAT) It can be a card.

The test input/output device 200 refers to an input/output device that is a communication performance verification target, and is connected to the second module 140 through the test communication card 160 . In addition, the test input/output device 200 is also connected to the target input/output device 300 . In one embodiment, the test input/output device 200 may be a remote test input/output device 200 installed remotely from the soft PLC 100 .

As shown in FIG. 1 , the test input/output device 200 includes a test input device 210 and a test output device 220 . In one embodiment, the test input device 210 and the test output device 220 are implemented as a digital input card and a digital output card for inputting and outputting a digital signal, respectively, or an analog input card for inputting and outputting an analog signal, respectively. and an analog output card.

The target input/output device 300 refers to an input/output device that has already been verified, and is connected to the third module 150 through the target communication card 170 . In addition, the target input/output device 300 is also connected to the test input/output device 200 . In one embodiment, the target input/output device 300 may be a remote target input/output device 300 installed remotely from the soft PLC 100 .

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 , the target input/output device 300 includes a target input device 310 and a target output device 320 . In one embodiment, the target input device 310 and the target output device 320 are implemented as a digital input card and a digital output card for inputting and outputting a digital signal, respectively, or an analog input card for inputting and outputting an analog signal, respectively. and an analog output card.

According to this embodiment, the test output device 220 receives the verification signal from the second module 140 through the test communication card 160 and transmits it to the target input device 310 , and the target input device 310 . transmits the received verification signal to the third module 150 through the target communication card 170 .

In addition, the target output device 320 receives the confirmation signal from the third module 150 through the target communication card 170 and transmits it to the test input device 210 , and the test input device 210 receives the confirmation signal is transmitted to the second module 140 through the test communication card 160 .

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the above-described present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the following claims rather than the above detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention. do.

10: Communication performance verification system 100: Soft PLC
110: script generation unit 120: script execution unit
130: first module 140: second module
150: third module 160: test communication card
170: target communication card 200: test input/output device
210: target input/output device

Claims (16)

a script generator for generating an automated script including a verification task for verification of the test input/output device;
a script execution unit that executes the automation script to perform the verification task;
a first module connected to a target input/output device for which verification is completed, and generating a verification signal based on a verification signal received through the target input/output device according to the execution of the verification task; and
It is connected to the test input/output device, generates the verification signal according to the execution of the verification task, provides the verification signal to the first module, and compares the verification signal with the verification signal received from the first module through the test input/output device to the communication performance verification system between the input/output device and the soft PLC using robot process automation, characterized in that it comprises a second module for verifying the performance of the test input/output device. According to claim 1,
The first module receives the verification signal from the second module through the target input/output device, and generates the verification signal by scaling the verification signal by a predetermined ratio when the verification signal is an analog signal. do,
When the verification signal is received through the test input/output device, the second module restores the verification signal from the verification signal by inversely scaling the verification signal by the ratio, and the second module generates the restored verification signal Communication performance verification system between input/output device and soft PLC using robot process automation, characterized in that it is compared with one verification signal. According to claim 1,
The first module receives the verification signal from the second module through the target input/output device, and when the verification signal is a digital signal, by shifting the bits in binary form in the verification signal to the left by a predetermined number, the generate a confirmation signal,
When the confirmation signal is received through the test input/output device, the second module restores the verification signal from the confirmation signal by shifting bits in the binary format to the right by a predetermined number in the confirmation signal, and restores the restored verification signal A communication performance verification system between the input/output device and the soft PLC using robot process automation, characterized in that compared with the verification signal generated by the second module. According to claim 1,
When the verification signal is a digital signal, the second module determines that the performance of the test input/output device is healthy if the verification signal and the verification signal are the same. Communication Performance Verification System. According to claim 1,
In the second module, when the verification signal is an analog signal, if the verification signal and the verification signal are the same or the representative value of the verification signal is within an error range of the representative value of the verification signal, the performance of the test input/output device is healthy Communication performance verification system between the input/output device and the soft PLC using robot process automation, characterized in that it is determined that 6. The method of claim 5,
The analog signal is a step-type signal,
The representative value comprises at least one of a time for which a unit step is maintained, a height of a unit step, a minimum value at which the step waveform starts, and a maximum value of the step waveform when the analog signal is in the form of a step Communication performance verification system between input/output device and soft PLC using robot process automation. 6. The method of claim 5,
The analog signal is a signal in the form of a sine wave,
The representative value comprises at least one of a period of one cycle of a sine wave, an offset in the amplitude direction of the sine wave, an amplitude of the sine wave, and a delay ratio of a start point where the sine wave starts Communication performance verification system between input/output device and soft PLC using robot process automation. According to claim 1,
The script execution unit repeatedly executes the verification task a predetermined number of times and records each execution result as a log. Communication performance verification system between an input/output device and a soft PLC using robot process automation. According to claim 1,
The target input/output device,
a target input device receiving the verification signal from the test input/output device and inputting it to the first module; and
Communication performance verification system between the input/output device and the soft PLC using robot process automation, characterized in that it comprises a target output device for receiving the confirmation signal from the first module and outputting it to the test input/output device. According to claim 1,
The test input/output device,
a test input device receiving the confirmation signal from the target input/output device and inputting it to the second module; and
and a test output device for receiving the verification signal from the second module and outputting the verification signal to the target input/output device. According to claim 1,
a target communication card connecting the target input/output device to the first module; and
Further comprising a test communication card for connecting the test input/output device to the second module,
the test output device of the test input/output device is connected to the target input device of the target input/output device;
The test input device of the test input/output device is a communication performance verification system between the input/output device and the soft PLC using robot process automation, characterized in that it is connected to the target output device of the target input/output device. 12. The method of claim 11,
The target communication card and the test communication card are input/output devices and software using robot process automation, characterized in that they support at least one communication protocol of Profibus, Profinet, and Ethercat. Communication performance verification system between PLCs. According to claim 1,
The verification task includes a verification signal generation event in which the second module generates the verification signal, a verification signal transmission event in which the second module transmits the verification signal to the first module, and the first module receives the verification signal A verification signal reception event to be received, a verification signal generation event in which the first module generates a verification signal based on the verification signal, a verification signal transmission event in which the first module transmits the verification signal to the second module, the and at least one of a confirmation signal reception event in which the second module receives the confirmation signal, and a verification event in which the second module compares the verification signal and the confirmation signal to verify the performance of the test input/output device. Communication performance verification system between input/output device and soft PLC using robot process automation. According to claim 1,
The automation script is a communication performance verification system between the input/output device and the soft PLC using robot process automation, characterized in that it further comprises a setting task for setting the test input/output device. 15. The method of claim 14,
Communication performance verification system between the input/output device and the soft PLC using robot process automation, characterized in that it further comprises a third module for downloading the installation file of the test input/output device according to the execution of the setting task and installing it on the soft PLC. 15. The method of claim 14,
The setting task includes an object providing event for providing an object for inputting the model name of the test input/output device and the IP address of the soft PLC, a connection event for accessing the manufacturer homepage of the test input/output device based on the input model name, the manufacturer and at least one of a download event for downloading the installation file of the test input/output device from a homepage, and an installation event for installing the test input/output device in the soft PLC by installing the downloaded installation file to the soft PLC Communication performance verification system between input/output device and soft PLC using robot process automation.

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