Automation Engineering System Dependency Retrieval Sequence
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automation engineering systems face challenges in managing inter-dependent function blocks, requiring users to manually remember and select specific versions, leading to a cumbersome and time-consuming process due to complex dependencies, which complicates the compilation and execution of PLC programs in industrial automation projects.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that automatically determine and retrieve dependent function blocks by analyzing dependency data, generating a retrieval sequence to import objects with minimal dependencies first, thereby simplifying the creation of engineering projects in an automation engineering system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users manually remember and select specific versions of function blocks, then version control is achieved, but user effort and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines and retrieves dependent function blocks and their versions without requiring user intervention. The automation engineering system performs self-service by analyzing dependency data, identifying required function blocks, and retrieving appropriate versions from the repository autonomously, eliminating manual user effort while maintaining version control accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of dependency data before project creation to pre-identify all required function blocks and their versions. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare the complete set of dependent objects in advance, so when project creation is initiated, all necessary components are already identified and ready for retrieval, significantly reducing user time consumption
2Reliability
If users manually manage dependent function blocks, then version accuracy is maintained, but complexity of the process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the complex dependency analysis and version determination tasks from the user's manual process. By taking out these complicated operations and automating them through the engineering system's dependency data analysis capabilities, the system maintains version accuracy while removing the cumbersome manual management steps from the user's workflow
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary automated dependency management layer between the user and the function block repository. This intermediary automatically analyzes dependency data, determines version requirements, and coordinates retrieval operations, thereby maintaining version accuracy while shielding users from the complexity of direct dependency management
3Reliability
If recursive import of dependent function blocks is performed, then complete dependency chain is established, but import order management becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the complete dependency chain using stored dependency data before initiating any imports. By pre-determining all required function blocks and their relationships in advance, the system can then execute imports in the correct sequence automatically, ensuring complete dependency establishment while eliminating the need for users to manage import order complexity
4Ease of operation
If automatic dependency retrieval is implemented, then user effort is reduced, but system automation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automation engineering system performs self-service by automatically analyzing its own dependency data and retrieving required function blocks without external intervention. This self-service capability reduces user effort to simple project initiation while the system autonomously handles the complex automation tasks of dependency analysis and object retrieval
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary processing of dependency data during system operation, maintaining ready-to-use dependency information. When automatic retrieval is triggered, the system already has the analysis framework prepared, allowing it to quickly determine and retrieve dependent objects without requiring complex real-time computations, thus easing operation while managing automation complexity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
System, method and computer program product for creating an engineering project in an industrial automation environment. A method, an automation engineering system (101), and a computer program product for creating an engineering project are provided. The automation engineering system (101) obtains a primary engineering object (501) from a plurality of engineering objects (502-511) associated with the engineering project from a repository (111). The automation engineering system (101) determines one or more engineering objects (501-511) from the plurality of engineering objects (502-511) that are dependent on the primary engineering object (501), based on dependency data associated with the primary engineering object (501). The automation engineering system (101) obtains the dependent one or more engineering objects (502-511) from the repository (111) in a retrieval sequence generated based on the dependency data of each of the engineering objects (501-511) and generates the engineering project using the primary engineering object (501) and the dependent one or more engineering objects (502-511).