Modbus Protocol for Simulink

Modbus support with Simulink Real-Time and Speedgoat real-time target machines allows your control algorithms and simulation models to exchange data with external Modbus-enabled devices and systems. Communicating with devices such as programmable logic controllers, grid protection relays, inverters, and sensors empowers users to design, simulate, and test applications for manufacturing processes and power distribution systems.

Modbus is a commonly used communication protocol in the industrial automation and power systems industries. The protocol is supported by many manufacturers, including Schneider Electric, Siemens, and Honeywell.

Use dedicated I/O modules and native interfaces for Modbus TCP connectivity or external gateways for Modbus RTU (see Selection Guide below). Simulink driver blocks represent all the protocol features.

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modbus

About Modbus

Modbus is an open communication protocol that follows a client-server architecture. Several versions and hardware layers exist, such as Modbus RTU on RS232/RS485 and Modbus TCP on Ethernet.

Modbus relies on a request-response mechanism. Only the client can initiate the connection and data exchange by sending queries to the servers. According to the request frame's function code, the servers supply the requested data or take over the requested action. Servers do not transmit data autonomously.

Selection Guide

Native Modbus TCP runs on the CPU. This is supported with onboard Ethernet interfaces and plug-in Ethernet I/O modules. One Ethernet port can handle the data transmission of multiple Modbus nodes configured in the real-time application (client, server, or both). Each Modbus node requires a run-time license. Native Modbus TCP support is available with MATLAB R2020b and later.

The following native implementations are available:

Product	Supported machines
Native Modbus TCP Client interface (available soon)	Performance, Mobile, Baseline, and Unit real-time target machines
Native Modbus TCP Server interface	Performance, Mobile, Baseline, and Unit real-time target machines

In addition to onboard Ethernet support, native Modbus TCP is compatible with the following Ethernet I/O modules:

Product	Number of ports	Supported machines
IO710	1 port	Performance machine
IO712	2 ports	Performance machine
IO713	4 ports	Performance machine
IO715	4 ports	Performance, Mobile and Baseline real-time target machines
IO791	2 ports	Baseline and Unit real-time target machines

The IO75x I/O module series provides dedicated Modbus TCP I/O modules for single-node and multi-node applications. One module acts either as a single Modbus TCP node or a whole network of Modbus nodes. This solution ensures deterministic transmission of client queries and short response times to queries in the server because the protocol stack runs on the I/O module. IO75x I/O modules do not require run-time licenses.

Product	Description	Supported machines
IO753	Modbus TCP I/O module that acts as one client	Performance, Mobile, Baseline, and Unit real-time target machines
IO754	Modbus TCP I/O module that acts as one server	Performance, Mobile, Baseline, and Unit real-time target machines
IO754-32	Modbus TCP multi-node I/O module that simulates up to 32 servers	Mobile real-time target machine