Verifying Control Logic on Soft PLCs Using Co-Simulation
| Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|
| 19 May 2026, 04:00 EDT | 19 May 2026, 05:00 EDT |
Overview
Industrial machinery and robotics OEMs are under pressure to validate control behavior earlier, while access to physical machines for testing is increasingly limited.
MathWorks supports earlier system-level verification by simulating control software against realistic machine and process models before hardware is available. This allows teams to observe control behavior in context and identify issues that are difficult to uncover through code review or isolated controller tests.
In this webinar, we will show several co-simulation methods used to validate control logic developed for industrial controllers running IEC 61131-3 or C/C++. We will demonstrate how Soft PLCs are interfaced with plant and machine models and how simulation-based testing helps expose behavioral and integration issues early in development.
The webinar also highlights how control logic created in Simulink can uncover design flows before the algorithm is implemented. From the verified design we automatically generate IEC 61131-3 Structured Text. This supports consistent behavior between simulation and controller implementation.
Who Should Attend
Automation and controls engineers responsible for developing and testing control logic, using industrial controllers as well as system and process engineers responsible for designing machine and plant behavior. Technical decision makers evaluating methods for earlier system-level verification.
Highlights
- Configure connections between a Soft PLC and a machine or process model as part of a co-simulation workflow.
- Run IEC 61131‑3 or C/C++ controller logic in an environment that records state behavior and evaluates controller responses.
- Use OPC UA or similar communication methods to exchange data between controller software and plant models.
- Prepare controller logic in Simulink for PLC implementation and generate IEC 61131‑3 Structured Text from the verified design.
About the Presenters
Feng He is an Application Engineer at MathWorks specializing in multidomain physical modeling, control design, and code generation on industrial platforms. Before joining MathWorks, Feng He worked many years in the automotive industry. He holds a Master's Degree in Automation Engineering and Control of Complex Systems from the University of Catania, Italy.
Martin Förster is an Application Engineer at MathWorks in Munich. He supports customers working with model-based design, focusing on PLC code generation and real-time simulation. Previously, as Application Engineering team lead at machineering GmbH & Co. KG, he guided machinery and plant manufacturers in virtual commissioning projects. He holds a master's degree in electrical engineering with a focus on automation technology.
Product Focus
This event is part of a series of related topics. View the full list of events in this series.
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