Yokogawa Virtual-M3 PLC simulation software

Yokogawa has developed Virtual-M3, a simulation software tool for the Yokogawa FA-M3V range-free multicontroller. With the simulation software, a virtual debugging environment can be established on a PC to debug application control programs for the FA-M3V without having to use an actual multicontroller and I/O devices.

Normally, the debugging of such control programs requires the use of a PLC, target devices and a PC, and is a time-consuming process. Virtual-M3 is designed to establish a virtual debugging environment on a PC and perform the same sort of simulations that in the past have required the use of the actual hardware.

Virtual-M3 constructs a debugging environment that consists of a virtual CPU module and virtual I/O modules. The former simulates the behaviour of the CPU module on an actual FA-M3V unit and the latter reproduces the behaviour of the I/O modules on the FA-M3V and the target devices. There is no need to shut down the actual equipment to debug their control programs or conduct failure analyses.

Using a step operation function, Virtual-M3 can perform debugging operations that are impossible using conventional debugging techniques that require the actual hardware. These operations include running repeated tests on selected program segments; the execution of command, circuit and scan operations one step at a time; and the skipping or restarting of programs.

Yokogawa also offers the WideField3 program development tool for writing, debugging and managing FA-M3V applications. WideField3 now supports Virtual-M3 and Windows 10.