Industrial Automation Code Changes With Rule-Based Edit Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial automation system design and maintenance are hindered by the lack of efficient tools for ensuring compliance with design rules, compatibility of components, and effective troubleshooting, leading to resource-intensive and error-prone processes.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of AI and machine learning technologies to enforce design rules, suggest compatible components, and provide automated troubleshooting suggestions, along with a light engineering client environment for minor adjustments, reduces the complexity of industrial automation system design and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual code writing and component configuration is used by designers, then design flexibility and customization are achieved, but design time and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign flexibilityVSAvoiddesign time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating code frameworks, suggesting compatible components, and pre-configuring system architectures based on high-level specifications. This reduces the manual effort required during the actual design phase while maintaining flexibility through configurable parameters and customizable components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical coding processes with automated software systems that generate code, validate configurations, and manage component compatibility. This substitution maintains design flexibility through programmable interfaces while dramatically reducing the time and effort required for manual code writing and system integration.

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

2Manufacturing precision

If designers manually update component names and configurations throughout the system, then naming conventions are maintained, but human error increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenaming convention complianceVSAvoidupdate efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting component name changes and propagating updates throughout the codebase and configuration files. The automated system maintains naming conventions and references without human intervention, eliminating manual update tasks and reducing errors while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms that automatically detect changes in component names and configurations, then propagate these changes throughout the system. This closed-loop approach ensures naming convention compliance is maintained automatically, preventing errors and reducing the time required for manual updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If designers are required to review previous designs and specifications for each new component, then design consistency is maintained, but the design process becomes resource-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign consistencyVSAvoiddesign process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically analyzing previous designs and specifications, then using this information to suggest compatible components and validate new configurations. This maintains design consistency through automated reference checking while reducing the resource intensity of manual review processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual design review processes with automated software systems that analyze previous designs, validate component compatibility, and ensure consistency with existing specifications. This substitution maintains design quality while significantly reducing the time and resources required for review.

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

4Reliability

If the system provides comprehensive design rule enforcement and compatibility checking, then system reliability improves, but design complexity and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoiddesign tool complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by implementing design rule enforcement and compatibility checking at critical decision points rather than continuously throughout the entire design process. This selective approach maintains system reliability by validating key configurations while reducing the perceived complexity and processing time for users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary components that automatically handle design rule enforcement and compatibility checking in the background. These intermediaries validate configurations without requiring users to directly engage with complex validation rules, thereby maintaining reliability while simplifying the user experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11727290B2Industrial automation control code change management and multiple edit integration
Publication Date: 2023.08.15 ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECH INC
  • US11727290B2 patent drawing
  • US11727290B2 patent drawing
  • US11727290B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A (GUI) for designing an industrial automation system includes a design window and a first accessory window. The GUI presents a library visualization representative of a plurality of objects within the first accessory window, each object is represented by an icon and corresponds to a respective industrial automation device. The GUI receives inputs indicative of a selection of one or more objects of the plurality of objects from the library, presents the one or more objects in the design window, determines that the one or more inputs do not comply with a set of industrial automation system rules comprising one or more relationships between a plurality of industrial automation devices, and displays a warning message that the one or more inputs do not comply with the set of industrial automation system rules.