AI Plant Status Reporting for Automated Shift Knowledge Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for plant operation and supervision are cumbersome and prone to errors, especially in situations requiring knowledge transfer between operators, such as multiple shifts, leading to inefficient information gathering and operation.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method using an AI module to generate a plant status report by determining relevant plant parameter information based on user queries, incorporating sensors, historical documents, and machine learning models to provide comprehensive and optimized reports.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If operators manually collect information for plant operation, then they can gather relevant data, but the process becomes cumbersome and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accuracyVSAvoidinformation gathering effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically generates plant status reports by querying operational data from plant systems without requiring manual information gathering by operators. The AI module independently collects, processes, and presents relevant operational information, enabling the system to serve itself rather than relying on human operators to manually compile data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of information gathering with an automated AI-based system. The AI module uses natural language processing and automated querying to substitute the human operator's manual information collection activities, thereby eliminating errors associated with manual data gathering while maintaining ease of access to operational information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If multiple operators control a plant with shift changes, then operational continuity is maintained, but knowledge transfer between operators becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational continuityVSAvoidknowledge transfer
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a standardized digital copy of plant status information that can be consistently transferred between operators during shift changes. The AI-generated reports serve as accurate replicas of the current plant state, ensuring that knowledge transfer between operators is complete and consistent regardless of individual operator expertise or memory.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms operational knowledge into standardized parameter-based reports that can be easily transferred between operators. By converting complex operational states into structured parameters and metrics, the system enables reliable knowledge transfer during shift changes while maintaining operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If operators gather comprehensive information, then complete operational data is available, but the process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidinformation gathering time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically generating and updating plant status reports in advance, so that comprehensive operational information is already prepared and available when operators need it. The AI module continuously queries and processes data beforehand, eliminating the time required for operators to manually gather information during critical decision-making moments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces time-consuming manual information gathering with automated AI processing. The system efficiently queries multiple data sources, processes information, and generates comprehensive reports instantly, substituting the slow manual process while maintaining complete information availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4589495A1Ai based plant status reporting
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP4589495A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4589495A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4589495A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A computer-implemented method is presented for reporting about a status of a plant, wherein the method comprises the steps of receiving (S2) by an artificial intelligence, Al, module (50) a query to generate a plant status report (5), determining (S3) by the AI module at least one plant parameter status information (19) of at least one plant parameter of interest based on the query, wherein the plant parameter status information comprises operational information of the plant parameter of interest, generating (S4) the plant status report (5) including the determined plant parameter status information.