Abstract Automation Model Framework for Multi-Platform Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern industrial control systems face challenges in efficiently designing and deploying control solutions across diverse hardware platforms, leading to increased development costs and delayed time-to-market due to the complexity of customizing software for various hardware environments.

Innovation Solution

A development platform employing a generic Abstract Automation Model (AAM) and Concrete Automation Model (CAM) framework, which enables code deployment and execution on multiple hardware platforms by defining a unified data management scheme and providing interoperability through standard programming models like IEC 61131 and 61499, allowing for rapid feature addition and conversion across different development environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If developers customize software for various hardware platforms, then control solutions can be tailored to specific hardware requirements, but development costs and time-to-market increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol solution adaptabilityVSAvoiddevelopment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the control software into a platform-independent control logic layer and platform-specific hardware interface layers. The control logic is developed once in a unified development environment and then segmented into deployable units that can be independently deployed to different hardware platforms through automated code generation, eliminating the need for developers to manually customize software for each platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary code generation layer that translates high-level control logic into platform-specific code. This intermediary automatically generates the necessary hardware interface code based on the target platform specifications, serving as a mediator between the universal control logic and diverse hardware platforms, thereby reducing development time while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If developers request changes from OEM providers for customization, then control solutions can be optimized for specific applications, but significant costs are incurred

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication optimizationVSAvoiddevelopment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables developers to self-service the customization needs by providing tools to directly modify and extend control logic within the unified development environment. Developers can configure platform-specific behaviors and optimize control algorithms for their applications without needing to contact OEM providers, thereby reducing dependency and associated costs while maintaining application optimization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple development programs are used to support diverse hardware platforms, then hardware compatibility is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware compatibilityVSAvoiddevelopment system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a universal development environment that can target multiple hardware platforms through a single interface. The platform-independent control logic layer is designed to be universally compatible with various hardware platforms, and the automated code generation system provides multi-functionality by generating platform-specific code from the same source, thereby achieving hardware compatibility without increasing development system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If standard development programs are used without customization, then development time is reduced, but the ability to add new features is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevelopment speedVSAvoidfeature extensibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides a dynamic extension mechanism that allows the control logic to be extended with new features while maintaining the benefits of standardized development. The platform-independent control logic layer is designed to be extensible through configuration and modular additions, enabling rapid incorporation of new features without requiring full customization, thus maintaining both development speed and feature adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8347264B2Method and system for an automation collaborative framework

Publication Date: 2013.01.01 ICS TRIPLEX ISAGRAF

AI summary

An automation collaborative framework (ACF) is provided. The ACF includes an abstract automated model (AAM) that defines a generic data management scheme. The AAM is extended so as to define an extended data management scheme according to control solutions received from a user. A concrete automation model (CAM) then implements a concrete data management scheme, in which the concrete data management scheme is derived as a function of the generic data management scheme and the extended data management scheme.