US 11,599,082 B2Granted

Distributed automation control

AssigneeBEET, Inc.

InventorsDavid Jingqiu Wang, Aaron Gregory Romain, Daniel Philip Romain

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Abstract

A distributed automation control system includes a network for connecting members of the system to a central server for communication between the members and the central server. The members can include a device controlled by a microcontroller in communication with the network, a mobile object digitized to communicate with the central server via the network, and a facility component in communication with the central server. A member can be assigned to one or more groups of members for group learning and for generating a group heartbeat. Each member defines a safety volume which is monitored by the central server. When the safety volume of one member overlaps the safety volume of another member, the central server initiates a responsive action which can include ceasing the operation of at least one of the members.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for distributed automation control, the method comprising:

providing a network;
wherein the network comprises an ethernet over power (EoP) cable;
providing a central server in communication with the network;
connecting a plurality of members to the central server via the network such that each member is in communication with the central server via the EoP cable;
wherein the central server includes a memory and a processor and is configured to:
store a plurality of operations to a database;
assign, via the network, at least one operation of the plurality of operations to a member of the plurality of members;
wherein the member is configured to:
monitor a current operating condition of the member;
monitor a performance of the at least one operation assigned to the member;
transmit an alert signal to the central server when at least one of:
the current operating condition of the member is not an acceptable condition defined for the current operating condition;
and
the performance of the at least one operation is noncompliant with an operation specification defined for the at least one operation;
the method further comprising:
monitoring, via the member, the current operating condition of the member;
monitoring, via the member, the performance of the at least one operation by the member;
transmitting, via the member, the alert signal to the central server when at least one of:
the current operating condition of the member is not the acceptable condition;
and
the performance of the at least one operation is noncompliant with the operation specification.

18 more elements

A system for distributed automation control, the system comprising:

a network comprising an ethernet over power (EoP) cable;
a central server in communication with the network;
a plurality of members connected to the central server via the network such that each member is in communication with the central server;
wherein the central server includes a memory and a processor and is configured to:
store a plurality of operations to a database;
assign, via the network, at least one operation of the plurality of operations to a member of the plurality of members;
wherein the member is configured to:
monitor a current operating condition of the member;
monitor a performance of the at least one operation assigned to the member;
and
transmit an alert signal to the central server when at least one of:
the current operating condition of the member is not an acceptable condition defined for the current operating condition;
and
the performance of the at least one operation is noncompliant with an operation specification defined for the at least one operation.

11 more elements

A method for distributed automation control, the method comprising:

providing a network;
wherein the network comprises an ethernet over power (EoP) cable;
providing a central server in communication with the network;
connecting a plurality of members to the central server via the network such that each member is in communication with the central server;
wherein the central server includes a memory and a processor and is configured to:
store a plurality of operations to a database;
assign, via the network, at least one operation of the plurality of operations to a member of the plurality of members;
the method further comprising:
assigning, via the network, the at least one operation to the member;
wherein at least one member of the plurality of members comprises a microcontroller in communication with the central server via the EoP cable;
and
wherein the microcontroller includes a processor and a memory configured to:
control the member to perform the at least one operation assigned to the member;
wherein the member is configured to:
monitor a current operating condition of the member;
transmit, via the member, the current operating condition of the member;
and
transmit an alert signal to the central server when at least one of:
the current operating condition of the member is not an acceptable condition defined for the current operating condition;
and
a performance of the at least one operation is noncompliant with an operation specification defined for the at least one operation;
the method further comprising:
monitoring, via the member, the current operating condition of the member;
and
transmitting, via the member, the current operating condition of the member;
receiving, via the central server, the current operating condition of member;
time stamping, via the central server, the current operating condition of the member with a time stamp;
and
storing to the database, via the central server, the current operating condition of the member and the time stamp associated with the current operating condition as a time stamp-current operating condition pair.

26 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/498,341Filed 11 Oct 2021 · continuation
Priority: 25 Jan 2018
Published: US 2022/0026872 A127 Jan 2022
Granted: 7 Mar 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

G05B 19/402
Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to…
G05B 19/4185
Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible…:…
G06Q 10/00
Administration
G06Q 10/087
Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management: inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling,…

Family

Application62/621,623Us provisional application · filed 25 Jan 2018
Application62/621,709Us provisional application · filed 25 Jan 2018
PCT/US2019/014930Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 24 Jan 2019
PCT/US2019/015308Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Jan 2019
US 2022/0026872 A1Pre-grant publication · published 27 Jan 2022
Application16/957,876Parent of this continuation
US 11,175,644 B2Parent of this continuation
Application16/957,876Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 11,144,030 B2Related patent
US 2020/0341458 A1Published application
US 11,599,082 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.