Hi,

The first method is OPC communications.You can access to PLC via OPC Toolbox (MATLAB side) and S7 + SIMATIC NET OPC server software. That method does not require any additional soft to be developed.

Second method is to write the communication driver itself via a MATLAB S-function/COM object/whatever. Actually, I don't think it's a public topic on this forum. You can write to my private if you need more help on that.

Hope this will help

makh

Dear
i want to design an online checkbox,for sorting different products like fruits.so,frist i take a picture from that pruduct(for example,an apple) az then process this picture in image processing software like matlab (in fact i write a program in c++ and c# for image processing). i need to send the result of my image processing, to my plc (s7 300) to provocate an special pneumatic jacks.in fact i need to know how can i connect, link and interface between c++,c# ,matlab and step 7 lite software.
so could you please help me?!
regard.

J_Bell

Hello makh,

well I think what you plan to do is possible, at least as far as I see from PLC side... I am not as familiar with matlab as you seem to be.

If you want to communicate from your PC to the PLC you have several possibilities.
First you may use MPI, this would also allow the use of STEP 7 lite you seem to have.
Secondly you may use PROFIBUS you have with your PLC CPU maybe.
Alternatively you may use industrial Ethernet also, but in this case you will need a STEP7 version that allows you to configure an Ethernet network and a CP to interconnect your PLC to the Ethernet. STEP7 lite will not be sufficient in this case. Here you need a standard STEP7 version.

To connect the PC to the PLC you may use:

For MPI or PROFIBUS a CP 5611 or CP 5512 or CP 5711, all CPs mentioned support MPI or PROFIBUS. Additionally you need SOFTNET S7 for PROFIBUS. This software provides a C or OPC interface to use to use the S7-Communication used to write the data to the CPU.
For Ethernet you may use any standard NDIS NIC with your PC. As a driver you may use SOFTNET S7 Lean, this software provides... just like the PROFIBUS driver... a C or OPC interface to you.

This would be it... I think. Actually... I think I remember that matlab supports S7-Communication with SIMATIC NET too, but there you would need certain versions of the matlab software. You may ask for this at matlab.

Best regards
J_Bell