Industrial Automation Design System Reducing Component Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation designers face inefficiencies due to the repeated reengineering of identical or similar components across different projects, resulting in high redundancy and unnecessary rehashing of similar subject matter, which hampers the pace of system improvement.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for configuring and creating industrial automation designs that includes a requirements component to generate functional specifications, a software component to create software design specifications, a hardware component to generate hardware design specifications, a qualification component for testing and validation, and a resource component to manage project costs, all integrated to reduce redundancy and enhance efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If industrial automation designers manually reengineer identical or similar components for different projects, then each project can be customized to meet specific requirements, but the design process becomes highly inefficient and time-consuming due to repeated work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the automation system design into modular components (I/O components, control components, actuator components) that can be independently configured and reused. Each component type is broken down into standardized functional blocks that can be assembled through configuration rather than reengineering, resolving the contradiction between customization and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring standardized component templates with default parameters and industry-specific settings. These pre-configured templates can be directly applied to new projects through configuration selection, eliminating the need to manually reengineer similar components while maintaining adaptability through parameter adjustment.
2Reliability
If designers create detailed specifications for each project from scratch, then project-specific requirements are fully addressed, but substantial redundancy exists between designs of unrelated projects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements copying by creating a library of standardized component specifications and configurations that can be copied and adapted across projects. Instead of creating specifications from scratch, designers can copy existing component templates and modify parameters to meet project-specific requirements, reducing redundancy while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing component specifications that serve multiple project types through parameterized configurations. A single component template can be universally applied across different projects by adjusting configuration parameters, eliminating the need for separate detailed specifications for each project while ensuring requirements are met.
3Manufacturing precision
If complete design specifications are generated for every project, then thorough validation is possible, but the complexity of repeatedly documenting and testing similar components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the specification generation and validation processes by integrating testing protocols directly into the component configuration system. When components are configured, associated specifications and test cases are automatically generated and linked, reducing documentation complexity while maintaining specification accuracy through systematic integration.
Data Source
AI summary
The innovation relates to a system and/or methodology for the configuration and creation of industrial automation designs. The system providing for the generation of functional specifications, software and hardware designs, as well as testing and testing schemas. Additionally, the innovation provides a user interface for modification of the designs and specifications.