US 10,496,061 B2Granted

Modeling of an industrial automation environment in the cloud

AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

InventorsJohn Strohmenger, Jessica L. Korpela, Matthew W. Fordenwalt, Jan Pingel, Stephen L. Hickox, Douglas B. Weber

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Abstract

A cloud-based modeler component that generates interactive models of an industrial automation system(s) (IAS(s)) is presented. An interactive model facilitates remote viewing of, interaction with, troubleshooting of problems with, or optimization of industrial assets of an IAS. The modeler component polls industrial assets via cloud gateways to obtain information relating to the industrial assets to identify industrial assets of the IAS and relationships with other industrial assets or can receive information from a communication device that obtains information relating to legacy industrial assets to identify those legacy assets and their relationships. The modeler component generates an interactive model of the industrial assets of the IAS based on the information. The modeler component also can discover new industrial assets added to the IAS, can receive a pre-deployed model of an industrial asset from the industrial asset or another source, and can incorporate the pre-deployed model in the interactive model.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

a memory that stores computer-executable components;
a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, that executes computer-executable components, the computer-executable components comprising:
a collection component configured to collect a set of industrial data from a set of devices of an industrial automation system and store the set of industrial data in a data store, wherein the set of devices comprises a first industrial device and a second industrial device that are associated with an industrial process of the industrial automation system;
and
a modeler component configured to generate a model of the industrial automation system that corresponds to the industrial automation system, based on a first result of an analysis of the set of industrial data, to facilitate remote interaction with the industrial automation system in response to an interaction with a virtualized industrial automation system generated based on the model, wherein the modeler component is further configured to determine a modification that is able to be made to at least one device of the set of devices, based on a second result of the analysis, to improve operation of the industrial automation system, and wherein, based on the determination of the modification, a recommendation message is communicated to recommend that the modification be made to the at least one device,
wherein, to facilitate the generation of the model, the set of industrial data comprises device identification data received by the collection component from the first industrial device, wherein the device identification data identifies the first industrial device, the second industrial device, and a functional relationship and a connection between the first industrial device and the second industrial device, wherein the first industrial device detects and identifies the second industrial device in proximity to the first industrial device and the functional relationship and the connection between the first industrial device and the second industrial device, and generates at least a portion of the device identification data that identifies the second industrial device and identifies the functional relationship and the connection between the first industrial device and the second industrial device.

3 more elements

A method, comprising:

receiving, by a system comprising a processor, a set of industrial data from a set of devices of an industrial automation system for storage in a data store associated with the industrial automation system, wherein the set of devices comprises a first industrial device and a second industrial device that are part of an industrial process of the industrial automation system;
creating, by the system, a model of the industrial automation system that corresponds to the industrial automation system, based on a first result of analyzing the set of industrial data, to facilitate remotely interacting with the industrial automation system in response to an interaction with the model or a virtualized industrial automation system generated based on the model, wherein, to facilitate the creating of the model, the set of industrial data comprises device-related data received from the first industrial device, wherein the device-related data identifies the first industrial device, the second industrial device, and a functional relationship and a connection between the first industrial device and the second industrial device, wherein the first industrial device detects and identifies the second industrial device that is situated within a defined distance of the first industrial device and the functional relationship and the connection between the first industrial device and the second industrial device, and determines at least a portion of the device-related data that identifies the second industrial device and identifies the functional relationship and the connection between the first industrial device and the second industrial device;
and
determining, by the system, a device modification that is able to be made to the first industrial device, based on a second result of the analyzing of the set of industrial data, to facilitate recommending that the first industrial device modification be made to the first industrial device to enhance operation of the industrial automation system.

1 more element

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a system comprising a processor to perform operations, comprising:

collecting a set of industrial data from a set of devices of an industrial automation system for storage in a data store associated with the industrial automation system, wherein the set of devices comprises a first industrial device and a second industrial device that are associated with an industrial process of the industrial automation system;
generating a model that corresponds to the industrial automation system, based on a first result of analyzing the set of industrial data, to facilitate remotely interacting with the industrial automation system in response to an interaction with a virtualized industrial automation system generated based on the model, wherein, to facilitate the generating of the model, the set of industrial data comprises device-related data received from the first industrial device, wherein the device-related data identifies the first industrial device, the second industrial device, and a functional relationship and a connection between the first industrial device and the second industrial device, wherein the first industrial device senses and identifies the second industrial device that is located in proximity to the first industrial device and the functional relationship and the connection between the first industrial device and the second industrial device, and determines at least a portion of the device-related data that identifies the second industrial device and identifies the functional relationship and the connection between the first industrial device and the second industrial device;
and
identifying a change that is able to be made to a device of the set of devices of the industrial automation system, based on a second result of the analyzing of the set of industrial data, to facilitate suggesting that the change be made to the device to improve operation of the industrial automation system.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/658,327Filed 16 Mar 2015
Published: US 2016/0274553 A122 Sep 2016
Granted: 3 Dec 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G05B 17/02
Systems involving the use of models or simulators of said systems: electric
G05B 19/4155
Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to…
G05B 19/41885
Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible…:…
G05B 2219/23456
Pc programming: model machine for simulation