Desenvolvimento de um simulador de servidores Modbus TCP com interface gráfica para integração em sistemas SCADA

Abstract

This work presents the development and validation tests of a Modbus TCP server simulator, designed as a tool to assist in the development of supervisory systems. The simulator was designed to replicate part of the behavior of real devices, eliminating the need for their presence during integration testing with SCADA supervisory systems. To accomplish this project, knowledge about industrial networks, SCADA systems, and especially the Modbus protocol was gathered and applied to ensure the simulator's effectiveness. This tool was developed in Python, using the pyModbusTCP library to handle protocol communication and Tkinter for the graphical user interface. It supports the creation of multiple servers, facilitates the management of Modbus points (coils and holding registers), and includes features for generating random values and simulating timed events with or without conditions. Tests were conducted with Elipse E3 Power using a demonstration license and a simple project simulating a power substation with some equipment. Proper functionality and integration with the supervisory system were validated through communication tests and Modbus TCP traffic analysis with Wireshark, confirming that the Modbus protocol correctly performs communication between the simulator and the SCADA. A general conclusion is that the results proved valid and the simulator efficient, as it successfully performed real-time data exchange, response to received commands, and execution of simulated events without failures. Future work will include support for other protocols and the development of more complex simulation features.