A system for controlling automation, the system comprising:
- a machine including at least one element;
- wherein the at least one element is controllable to perform at least one operation;
- a user device including a connector port;
- an enabling switch comprising:
- a trigger configured to switch the enabling switch to an enabled state only when the trigger is manually activated by a user;
- wherein the trigger is manually activated only when a continuous manual input is applied to the trigger by the user;
- and
- a connector for selectively connecting the enabling switch to the connector port of the user device;
- and
- a machine control interface (MCI) defining at least one touch activated user interface element (UIE);
- wherein;
- the MCI is stored in a memory of the enabling switch;
- the MCI is retrieved from the enabling switch by the user device;
- wherein the MCI is received by the user device and displayed on a touch screen of the user device;
- and
- wherein the at least one UIE can be activated by a touch input to the touch screen to control performance of the at least one operation;
- wherein the user device is selectively enabled as an automation human machine interface (HMI) device for controlling the at least one operation only when:
- the enabling switch is connected to the user device via the connector;
- the MCI is displayed on the touch screen;
- and
- the trigger is manually activated by the user such that the enabling switch is in the enabled state;
- wherein:
- the at least one operation is one of a sequence of operations (SOP) performed by the machine;
- the machine collects data;
- the data includes at least one of a baseline cycle time for the at least one operation and an actual cycle time for performance of the at least one operation;
- wherein the MCI displays:
- the sequence of operations including the at least one operation;
- and
- at least one of:
- a baseline cycle indicator displaying the baseline cycle time of the at least one operation;
- and
- an actual cycle indicator displaying the actual cycle time of the at least one operation;
- and
- wherein:
- the at least one UIE includes a path defined by the at least one of the baseline cycle indicator and the actual cycle indicator;
- the touch input applied to the at least one UIE as a sliding pressure in a first direction along the path actuates performance of an operation cycle of the at least one operation to a conclusion of the operation cycle;
- the touch input applied to the at least one UIE as a sliding pressure in a second direction along the path and opposing the first direction actuates performance of the operation cycle of the at least one operation to return to a start condition of the operation cycle;
- and
- a selective interruption of the touch input along the path interrupts performance of the operation cycle of the at least one operation at a selected point in the operation cycle;
- wherein the selected point in the operation cycle is between the start condition and the conclusion of the operation cycle.