Industrial Co-Design Editor for Unified Graphical and Text Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face challenges due to the need for piecemeal design and configuration using separate development platforms, leading to complex programming and integration issues, limited user interfaces, and inefficient development processes.
Innovation Solution
An integrated development environment (IDE) is provided that offers a common design environment and data model for configuring and managing industrial automation systems, supporting multi-discipline programming through a graphical and text-based interface, using an industrial domain-specific language (DSL) for control programming and allowing customization of automation objects and programming syntax.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate development platforms are used for different automation disciplines, then each platform can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall system complexity increases and integration becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple discipline-specific development platforms (process control, discrete control, motion control, safety systems) into a single unified IDE. This allows engineers to work with all automation disciplines through one interface, eliminating the need to switch between separate platforms and reducing integration complexity while maintaining discipline-specific capabilities through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The IDE is designed as a universal platform that supports multiple automation disciplines simultaneously. It provides a common data model and interface that can handle process control, discrete control, motion control, and safety systems within the same environment, making the system adaptable to various automation needs without requiring separate specialized tools
2Ease of operation
If graphical programming interfaces are used, then ease of use improves for non-programmers, but programming capability and flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The IDE implements a dynamic interface that can switch between graphical and text-based programming modes. Users can start with graphical drag-and-drop programming for ease of use, then transition to text-based coding for more complex requirements. The system adapts to the user's needs and the complexity of the task, providing appropriate programming paradigms at different stages of development
Solution Approach 2:
The programming interface is segmented into distinct modes: graphical programming for basic functionality and text-based programming for advanced customization. Each mode can be used independently or in combination, allowing users to leverage the strengths of both approaches - the accessibility of graphical interfaces and the flexibility of text-based code
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate configuration tools are used, then each tool can be specialized for its purpose, but development time increases due to switching between tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple configuration tools into a single IDE environment. Engineers can configure process control, discrete control, motion control, and safety systems without leaving the application, eliminating time spent switching between separate tools while maintaining the specialized capabilities of each configuration type through integrated tool modules
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial IDE supports development of control programming using an industrial domain-specific language (DSL) that allows control programming to be written using a scripted programming language having features catered to the industrial domain. The industrial DSL can simplify and streamline development of industrial control code relative to using conventional graphics-based control programming formats such as ladder logic, since a script-based industrial DSL can be used to write programming code using fewer mouse clicks relative to traditional control programming environments. Editing tools inherent to the industrial DSL can provide dynamic programming feedback that guides the developer through the process of developing control code. A development interface of the industrial IDE can comprises two editing windows that render the control program in a graphical format and in a text-based format simultaneously, allowing the user to edit the program in either format on the same interface.