Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for synchronizing emulation models (i.e., digital twins) of portions of industrial automation systems across distributed computing systems. The emulation models are configured with sending and receiving nodes, and a publish and subscriber networking protocol is used to transmit loads between the nodes. A communication broker (i.e., multi-model server) configures a load transmission graph using the nodes of the emulation models and brokers the transmissions of loads based on the load transmission graph to ensure that loads published from a sending node are sent to the receiving node. As such, the emulations on the distributed node depict loads moving from sending nodes of one model to the corresponding receiving nodes in another model in near-real time.

Abstract: An industrial control design and testing system supports emulation of a 2D representation of control system wiring between an industrial controller and field hardware. The design and testing system can simulate wiring diagrams to virtually confirm connectivity between the controller and the I/O devices in the field. This approach can also confirm wiring connections that do not pass through the controller, including emergency stop pushbuttons or other electrical connections that do not feed back into the controller.