How we do it
TECHNOLOGY
Software
Controllab is the owner and developer of the software packages 20-sim. We use this software to create digital twins: simulation models that we use to develop and test control systems and build training simulators.
Physics
20-sim supports component based modelling. This is a modelling technique for physical systems that uses ports to connect components. Ports transfer energy from one component to the other and back. This allows us to create models by coupling individual components. We can for example connect a mass component to a spring damper component. The simulation will then show the emerging behaviour in the form of resonance. Port based model also allows us to verify that energy is conserved. With ports you therefore focus on the physics of a machine and this will result in simulation models that will mimic a real machine very well.
HIL Simulation
Our digital twins are simulation models that mimic real machines. We apply physics and use measurement data from other machines to make our simulation models behave exactly as the real machine. And we are experts in letting these models run in real-time. This allows us to couple our digital twins to external control software. This is called Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation.
3D Animation
Our digital twins are simulation models that run in real-time. This allows us to couple our digital twins to Unity 3D for animation. Unity 3D is a gaming platform that can be used to create realistic 3D animations and Human Machine Interfaces (HMI).