# US 2014/0156050 A1 · Microbial monitoring and prediction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156050 A1 - Document ID: US20140156050A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/171,383 - Filed: 2014-02-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-03 - Assignees: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Frederick M. Discenzo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156050A1 ## CPC - G05B 13/04: involving the use of models or simulators - C12M 41/36: {of biomass, e.g. colony counters or by turbidity measurements (electrooptical investigation of individual particles G01N15/14, flow cytometers G01N15/1404)} - C12M 41/48: {Automatic or computerized control (automatic analysis G01N35/00)} - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} ## Abstract Aspects describe capturing various bacteria levels within a process affected by microbial agents. A model of the process and a model of expected bacteria growth are analyzed and, based on the analysis, at least one process parameter is automatically modified to improve or optimize the product or process or other business or operational objectives. Also provided are at least two autonomous agents within the process. The at least two autonomous agents communicate and autonomously implement an action in an upstream stage and/or downstream stage within the process, wherein the at least two autonomous agents access the representation of the process and the biological representation and/or bio-chemical representation to implement the action. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a process model configured to model a production process; a biological model configured to model biological activity of bacteria within the production process; and a controller configured to superimpose the biological model on the process model to dynamically model bio-chemical operations occurring in the production process, and adjust operation of the production process based at least in part upon analysis of the modeled bio-chemical operations. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to superimpose the biological model on the process model to create a combined model. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of the production process by adjusting control parameters of the production process, process parameters of the production process, environmental parameters of the production process, equipment used in the production process, ingredients used in the production process, sequence of processing steps in the production process, a schedule of products made by the production process, or any combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to superimpose the biological model on the process model by operating the biological model and the process model in parallel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the process model is configured to model products of the production process, equipment used in the production process, time-based interactions between the products and the equipment, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the biological model is configured to model bacteria levels within the production process. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a sensor configured to detect a type and a quantity of a biological species within the production process, wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of the production process based at least in part upon the type of the biological species, the quantity of the biological species, or both. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of the production process based at least in part on a quality parameter of the production process. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of the production process based at least in part on an energy parameter of the production process. ### Claim 10 A method, comprising: superimposing a biological model on a process model to create a combined model, wherein the process model is a model of a production process and the biological model is a model of biological activity occurring within the production process; predicting a bacteria level within the production process with a controller based at least in part on the combined model; and generating a command usable by the controller to control the production process, wherein the command is based at least in part on the predicted bacteria level and a desired bacteria level. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, comprising adjusting control parameters of the production process, process parameters of the production process, environmental parameters of the production process, equipment used in the production process, ingredients used in the production process, sequence of processing steps in the production process, a schedule of products made by the production process, or any combinations thereof based on the command. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein generating the command comprises: generating a plurality of potential operating scenarios that meet an objective function of the production process and a constraint of the production process; and selecting one of the plurality of potential operating scenarios, wherein the command implements the selected operating scenario. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the command is based at least in part on a quality parameter of the production process. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the command is based at least in part on an energy parameter of the production process. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein superimposing the biological model on the process model comprises operating the biological model and the process model substantially simultaneously. ### Claim 16 A method, comprising: superimposing a biological model on a process model with a controller to dynamically model bio-chemical operations occurring in a production process, wherein the process model is a model of the production process and the biological model is a model of biological activity; predicting a first bacteria level within the production process based at least in part on the superimposed biological model and process model; measuring a second bacteria level within the production process with a sensor; and adjusting the biological model, the process model, or both, in a feedback loop based at least in part on a comparison between the first bacteria level and the second bacteria level. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein adjusting the biological model, the process model, or both, comprises adapting the biological model, the process model, or both, to changes in bacteria species, metabolic rates, environmental conditions, or any combination thereof, affecting the production process. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, comprising introducing a known stimulus into the production process, wherein predicting the first bacteria level comprises predicting the first bacteria level in response to the known stimulus, and measuring the second bacteria level comprises measuring the second bacteria level in response to the known stimulus. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein superimposing the biological model on the process model creates a combined model. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein predicting the first bacteria level comprises predicting the first bacteria level at multiple stages in the production process, and measuring the second bacteria level comprises measuring the second bacteria level at the multiple stages in the production process, wherein the production process comprises a plurality of processing stages.