Method and system for radio transmission of data for a production facility

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for radio transmission of data of a production facility (F) from a transmitter (R1) via a controllable reflector (RIS) to a receiver (R10-R15, R21-R25), wherein at least one radio channel model is generated and trained by a processor (P) with a memory based on machine learning for the production facility (F) between the transmitter (R1) and the receiver (R10-R15, R21-R25), wherein one radio channel model each is determined for a configuration of facilities (M10-M15, M21-M25) of the production facility (F), and a current configuration of facilities (M10-M15, M21-M25) of the production facility (F) is determined, and the reflector (RIS) is steered for the current configuration by means of the determined radio channel model, and the data is transmitted from the transmitter (R1) via the reflector (RIS) to the receiver (R10-R15, R21-R25).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a computer-implemented method and a system for radio transmission of data of a production facility from a transmitter via a controllable reflector to a receiver.

[0002] The invention also relates to a corresponding computer program, an electronically readable data carrier and a data carrier signal. BACKGROUND

[0003] In modern factories, work steps that were previously performed by humans are increasingly taken over by production machines. Here, automation and the interlinking of all work equipment and work steps are playing an increasingly important role. Usually, the machines are controlled by industrial control devices such as SIMATIC. Today, these control facilities are mostly connected to one another via electrical lines. However, in the future it will be necessary to better coordinate, optimize and thus reconfigure these machines and production steps, which can require an adjustment of the spatial position of these work steps or machines.

[0004] For the connection between production machines and control units, special electrical lines in the form of flexible and expensive cables are mostly used.

[0005] Alternatively, radio systems are also available, however, in industrial environments, such as in a workshop with a plurality of machines, these radio systems usually form a plurality of reflection and shadowing points for radio waves. Furthermore, a direct line-of-sight contact is not always present between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit. The mentioned influences can cause that the radio transmission is adversely affected, especially at higher frequencies which mostly allow a large bandwidth, low latency, small size, low complexity and low cost of the radio system, and the availability of the production system is thereby insufficient.

[0006] In order to improve the availability of the production system when applying radio systems, the number of radio modules can be increased, however, this can lead to high infrastructure costs.

[0007] Alternatively, so-called smart reflectors can be placed between the transmitter and the receiver, at which the radio waves can be reflected in a targeted manner and thus an improved radio connection is formed between the transmitter and the receiver. However, a problem that usually occurs here is that the radio channel has unknown radio channel parameters, which must be detected cost- and time- intensively. Furthermore, the radio channel parameters determined in this way are only valid for the facility configuration in the workshop and must be determined anew for a changed configuration.

[0008] Such a configuration change can require a rapid adaptation of the radio system, which in the prior art leads to an undesirably increased system complexity and cost disadvantage.

[0009] The mentioned disadvantages severely limit the mobility of facility components, in particular in industrial plants. SUMMARY

[0010] It is the task of the present invention to overcome the mentioned disadvantages and to provide a solution which allows an improved mobility of the facility configuration when using radio communication.

[0011] The task according to the invention is solved by means of a device of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein at least one radio channel model is generated and trained by a processor with a memory between a transmitter and a receiver for a production facility on the basis of machine learning, wherein one radio channel model is determined for each configuration of the facility of the production facility, and a current configuration of the facility of the production facility is determined, and the reflector is steered for the current configuration by means of the determined radio channel model, and the data are transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver via the reflector.

[0012] By means of the invention, an improved radio connection is achieved when reconfiguring a production system with machines. If the machines are rearranged, a favorable position of the reflector can be determined by means of machine learning, by which position a good radio transmission between the transmitter and the receiver via the reflector is achieved.

[0013] The controllable reflector can be formed, for example, by an electrically steerable, physical single-piece or multi-piece reflector surface on a metal or also by one or more electronically controllable antenna elements, which can also have reflector elements and director elements.

[0014] Depending on the desired frequency range of the reflector, various embodiments of the reflector can be advantageous, for example as a variable controllable antenna array in the high-frequency gigahertz range with a controllable complex resistance in the antenna base.

[0015] In this context, the controllable reflector is understood to be a device which receives electromagnetic waves, for example from one direction, and reflects them in whole or also only partially purposefully in another direction and / or vice versa.

[0016] The reflector surface of the controllable reflector is therefore understood, for example, not only as a geometric surface, but also as the aperture or directional characteristic of the controllable reflector.

[0017] By means of the electronic steering of the one or more reflector elements, a variably definable reflection characteristic or pattern can be achieved for the controllable reflector, for example by means of phase-shifting elements or means in the steering of the controllable reflector.

[0018] The current configuration of the reflector or of the reflector surface can be transmitted by means of a wireless or wired communication channel in order to manipulate the controllable reflector in the current configuration by means of a corresponding control device.

[0019] It is provided in an expansion of the application that a movement trajectory of the configuration change is determined between a previous, known configuration and the current configuration of the facility of the production facility and that a corresponding configuration of the facility and building information of the production facility is determined at a selected control point along the movement trajectory for which configuration the reflector is manipulated by means of a corresponding radio channel model.

[0020] It is thereby achieved that a sufficiently good quality of the data transmission between the transmitter and the receiver can be ensured during the entire production process, i.e. across multiple manufacturing steps, despite configuration changes of the facility.

[0021] Furthermore, the radio system can be designed very simply or optimally, which simplifies the system, is cost-effective and allows a robust data transmission in operation, which can react very dynamically to changes in the configuration of the machine location or the internal configuration.

[0022] In certain cases, even system redundancies can be dispensed with.

[0023] It is provided in an expansion of the application that the current configuration additionally comprises information about the building and / or the internal and / or the machine geometry of the production facility.

[0024] It is thereby achieved that the environment of the respective facility is also taken into account when determining the radio channel model during a configuration change of the facility.

[0025] It is provided in a further expansion of the application that the radio channel model is determined for the respective production step by means of a processor and that the reflector is manipulated for the respective production step by means of the corresponding radio channel model.

[0026] It is thereby possible to ensure the quality of the data transmission between the transmitter and the receiver even during a process chain for manufacturing complex products, since the processor knows the resources required for the respective process step, i.e. the used facility of the production facility and its respective current arrangement within the production facility, and these resources can be taken into account in the radio channel model accordingly.

[0027] Furthermore, by means of the known new configuration, a redetermination of the subsequent radio channel model can be determined very simply by means of artificial intelligence, which is advantageous in particular along the trajectory.

[0028] The trajectory can be determined in a simple manner, for example, for a mobile machine with a predetermined movement route.

[0029] In an expansion of the application it is provided that the processor considers a Ray-Tracing method when determining the radio channel model.

[0030] Thereby, the number of radio channel models to be determined can be reduced and the computational efficiency can be improved.

[0031] In other words, unrealistic, improbable or theoretically impossible scenarios when radio waves propagate can be excluded both in the training phase of the radio channel model and in the application phase of the radio channel model.

[0032] In an expansion of the application it is provided that the respective position of the facility of the production facility is determined at least partially and is considered by the processor when determining the radio channel model.

[0033] It can also be provided that the current position of the adjustable reflector is considered when determining the radio channel model, for example in terms of an initial position from which the new position is determined, which can simplify the updating of the radio channel model.

[0034] It can also be provided that the current quality of the radio communication between the transmitter and the receiver is considered when determining the radio channel model, for example in order to perform a verification using the existing radio channel model.

[0035] Thereby, the complexity of a specific radio channel model and its calculation can be reduced.

[0036] In an expansion of the application it is provided that the radio channel model is determined in the cloud under control of the processor.

[0037] Thereby, the local system can be optimally designed and computationally intensive processes can be implemented by an efficient cloud system.

[0038] The task of the application is also solved by a computer program which comprises instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to the application.

[0039] The task of the application is also solved by an electronically readable data carrier having readable control information stored thereon, which readable control information comprises at least a computer program according to the application and is designed such that, when the data carrier is used in a computing device, the readable control information carries out the method according to the application.

[0040] The task of the application is also solved by a data carrier signal which transmits a computer program according to the application.

[0041] The object of the application is also solved by a system for radio transmission of data of a production facility from a transmitter via at least one controllable reflector to a receiver, wherein the system has a processor with a memory, which is set up to generate and train at least one radio channel model between the transmitter and the receiver for the production facility, wherein there is one radio channel model for each configuration of facility and building information of the production facility, and the processor is also set up to carry out the method according to the application.

[0042] In an expanded embodiment of the application it is provided that the transmitter and the reflector are spatially arranged at the same location with different configurations of facility and building information, respectively.

[0043] In an expanded embodiment of the application it is provided that the transmitter and the reflector are connected to the system by a wired data transmission system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0044] Subsequently, the application is explained in more detail on the basis of the embodiments shown in the drawings. In the drawings:

[0045] Figure 1 A first example of a configuration of a facility of a production system is shown;

[0046] Figure 2 A second example of a configuration of a facility of a production system is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] It is clear that other parts not shown are necessary for the operation of the production facility, such as workpieces, production material or electronic control devices. For better understanding, these parts are not shown and described.

[0048] The application is not limited to the specific embodiments described in detail, but includes all variants, combinations and modifications which fall within the scope of protection of the attached claims.

[0049] Figure 1 A first example of a configuration of a facility in the form of machines M10-M15, M21-M25 of a production system S is shown, which production system is located within a production facility F, such as an industrial hall.

[0050] The figure shows a top view, wherein it is noted that the transmitter and / or the controllable reflector RIS should advantageously be fixed higher than the ground in order to achieve a direct line-of-sight connection to the machines M10-M15, M21-M25, if possible.

[0051] However, this is not always possible, for example when the machines have a large size or machine geometry, such as a CNC milling machine in a safety cage, or an interior, such as a safety wall W.

[0052] The current configuration can thus comprise information about the building of the production facility F and / or the interior of the production facility F and / or the machine geometry.

[0053] The robot arm M11 calls the machines M12 to M15 to process the workpiece.

[0054] For example, the machine M12 can drill, the machine M13 can mill, the machine M14 can grind, and the machine M15 can insert a screw.

[0055] The mobile transport machine M10 transports the processed workpiece to the next production step.

[0056] In the figure, the movement trajectory T1 can be seen along which the transport machine M10 moves from one production step to the subsequent production step.

[0057] Here, the robot arm M21 again calls the machines M22 to M25 to process the workpiece.

[0058] For example, the machine M22 can glue, the machine M13 can rivet, the machine M14 can pre-treat the surface with a chemical, and the machine M15 can screw.

[0059] The processor P with memory is connected to the transmitter R1, for example a WLAN base station, in a wired manner, wherein a distance can also be provided between the processor P and the transmitter R1 due to the corresponding installation requirements.

[0060] In this example, each machine is equipped with its own radio module R10-R15 or R21-R25 with which the respective facility can communicate with the central control unit.

[0061] It is clear that a direct line-of-sight-radio connection can also be made between the transmitter R1 and one or more receivers R10-R15, R21-R25.

[0062] In the computer-implemented method for radio transmission of data of the production facility F between the transmitter R1, a reflector RIS with controllable reflector, and the receivers R10-R15 or R21-R25, the transmitter R1 transmits a transmission signal with data of the production facility F, which is reflected by the reflector RIS and received by the corresponding receivers R10-R15 or R21-R25.

[0063] Here, the processor P with memory generates and trains at least one radio channel model between the transmitter R1 and the receivers R10-R15, R21-R25 for the production facility F on the basis of machine learning.

[0064] One radio channel model each is determined for a configuration of the plant components M10-M15, M21-M25 of the production facility F.

[0065] In addition, a current configuration of the plant components M10-M15, M21-M25 of the production facility F is determined.

[0066] By means of the determined radio channel model, the reflector RIS is manipulated for the current configuration.

[0067] To ensure a radio connection between the central control unit with a processor P with memory, a controllable reflector RIS is provided, which can influence the radio channel.

[0068] The processor P can be connected to the cloud in order to, for example, perform complex calculations, such as determining the radio channel model in the cloud, which are controlled by the processor P.

[0069] The radio channel model can be determined by the processor (P) for a respective production step within a production process of a workpiece or product.

[0070] By means of the respective radio channel model, the reflector RIS is manipulated for the respective production step.

[0071] In determining the radio channel model, the processor P can take into account a ray tracing method.

[0072] A respective current position of the plant components M10-M15, M21-M25 of the production facility F can be determined and taken into account in determining the radio channel model.

[0073] The controllable reflector RIS can be, for example, an electromagnetic mirror, which can be rotated horizontally and / or tilted vertically by means of a servomotor.

[0074] In another embodiment of the application, the antenna properties of the reflector RIS can be changed by electronic means; here, the mechanical position can remain unchanged.

[0075] The means for controlling the antenna properties can be, for example, PIN diodes or varactor diodes, as well as semiconductor components or MEMS components.

[0076] It can occur that the machines M10-M15, M21-M25 have a good radio connection to the central control device at the specified location within the production facility F.

[0077] For these cases, it is not necessarily required to improve the radio connection via the controllable reflector RIS.

[0078] For the case that there is a shadowing, for example due to a large plant component or the building of the production plant F, like a safety wall W or the machine geometry of a plant component inside, an improvement in the characteristics of the radio channel can be achieved by adjusting the controllable reflector RIS accordingly.

[0079] The reflector RIS is controlled in rotation and wobble by the processor P, for which a wired communication channel C is provided, since in this example it is provided that the processor P and the reflector RIS are installed in a fixed position, while the plant components M10-M15, M21-M25 are configurable, that is to say, movable.

[0080] The communication channel C can also be used to transmit control information for manipulating the antenna characteristics by the electronic means of the reflector RIS.

[0081] The communication channel can also be implemented by wireless radio transmission instead of wired transmission, for example by means of Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wireless HART, etc.

[0082] The machines M10-M15, M21-M25, the processor P and the corresponding radio modules R1, R10-R15, R21-R25 form a system S with a first configuration, which comprises the current location or current position of the machines.

[0083] A movement trajectory T1 of the configuration change can be determined between the previous, known configuration and the current configuration of the plant components M10-M15, M21-M25 of the production plant F.

[0084] Along the movement trajectory T1, the corresponding configuration of the plant components M10-M15, M21-M25 and the building information of the production plant F is determined at selected control points, with which the reflector RIS is manipulated for this configuration by means of the corresponding radio channel model.

[0085] In this figure, the control devices for controlling the machines or other plants required for the production of workpieces by the production plant F are not shown for better understanding of the invention.

[0086] It is clear that instead of a single controllable reflector RIS, a plurality of controllable reflectors can also be used in a system according to the invention.

[0087] In this figure, the radio connections are symbolically represented by dashed lines, wherein it is clear that the multipath propagation across a plurality of reflection points is included in the real radio connection.

[0088] The function of the transmitter or receiver is the current function of the respective radio module at a certain point in time, which of course can also communicate in the opposite direction.

[0089] In other words, the radio modules R10-R15, R21-R25 of the assigned machines M10-M15, M21-M25 can also have the function of a transmitter at a point in time, and in correspondence therewith the radio module R1 of the assigned processor P can have the function of a receiver.

[0090] In Figure 2 In the above, a second example of a further configuration of the facility of the production facility F is shown, in which the current location or current position of the machines R10-R15, R21-R25 is changed.

[0091] In addition, the trajectory T2 of the mobile transport machine M10 has a changed course.

[0092] The changed position can cause that these radio channels extend differently or are disturbed undesirably, for example due to shielding or reflections at other machines or building parts.

[0093] The other explanations of the above figures apply correspondingly.

[0094] List of reference signs:

[0095] C communication channel

[0096] F production facility

[0097] M10 mobile transport machine

[0098] M11, M21 robot arm

[0099] M12-M15, M22-M25 production machine

[0100] P processor

[0101] R1, R10-R15, R21-R25 radio module, English "radio"

[0102] RIS controllable reflector, English "reflective intelligent surface"

[0103] S system

[0104] T1, T2 trajectory

[0105] W safety wall

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for radio transmission of data of a production facility (F) from a transmitter (Rl) via a controllable reflector (RIS) to a receiver (R10-R15, R21-R25), characterized in that producing and training, by a processor (P) with a memory, based on machine learning, for the production facility (F) at least one radio channel model between the transmitter (Rl) and the receiver (R10-R15, R21-R25), wherein one radio channel model is determined for each configuration of facilities (M10-M15, M21-M25) of the production facility (F), and a current configuration of facilities (M10-M15, M21-M25) of the production facility (F) is determined, and the reflector (RIS) is steered for the current configuration by means of the determined radio channel model, and the data is transmitted from the transmitter (Rl) via the reflector (RIS) to the receiver (R10-R15, R21-R25), wherein a movement trajectory (Tl, T2) of a configuration change is determined between a previous, known configuration and the current configuration of facilities (M10-M15, M21-M25) of the production facility (F), and respective configurations of facilities (M10-M15, M21-M25) and building information of the production facility (F) are determined at selected control points along the movement trajectory (Tl, T2) for which the reflector (RIS) is steered by means of the corresponding radio channel model.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the current configuration additionally comprises information about the building and / or interior (W) and / or machine geometry of the production facility (F).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the radio channel models are determined by the processor (P) for respective production steps, and the reflector (RIS) is steered for the respective production steps by means of the corresponding radio channel models.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processor (P) considers a ray tracing method when determining the radio channel models.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein respective positions of facilities (M10-M15, M21-M25) of the production facility (F) are determined at least partially, and the positions are considered when determining the radio channel models.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the radio channel models are determined by the processor (P) controllably in the cloud.

7. A computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. An electronically readable data carrier having readable control information stored thereon, the readable control information comprising at least the instructions according to claim 7 and being designed such that, when the data carrier is used in a computing device, the readable control information performs the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. A system (S) for radio transmission of data of a production facility (F) from a transmitter (Rl) via a controllable reflector (RIS) to receivers (R10-R15, R21-R25), characterized in that the system having a processor (P) with a memory, the processor (P) being set up to generate and train at least one radio channel model between the transmitter (Rl) and the receivers (R10-R15, R21-R25) for the production facility (F), wherein there is one radio channel model each for a configuration of facility (M10-M15, M21-M25) and building information of the production facility (F), and the processor (P) is further set up to perform the method according to any one of the above claims 1 to 6.

10. The system (S) according to claim 9, wherein the transmitter (Rl) and the reflector (RIS) are spatially arranged at the same location with different configurations of facility (M10-M15, M21-M25) and building information, respectively.

11. The system (S) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the transmitter (Rl) and the reflector (RIS) are connected to the system (S) by a wired data transmission system.

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