Unified Automation Objects for Controller-HMI Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In industrial automation, modifications to hardware components often require separate changes to controller code and HMI code, leading to syncing issues and increased processing and storage costs due to the need for multiple software objects for each hardware component.
Innovation Solution
An object library is maintained with objects that have shared properties for both industrial control and HMI applications, allowing a single object to be used for controlling and displaying hardware components, and automatically deploying changes across both domains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate software objects are maintained for controller code and HMI code, then each domain can be independently modified, but processing overhead and storage costs increase due to duplication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the controller object and HMI object into a single unified object that contains both controller logic and HMI display logic. This unified object is stored once in the object library, eliminating the need to maintain separate duplicate objects for each domain, thereby reducing processing overhead and storage costs while still allowing independent modification of either controller or HMI properties.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate software objects are maintained for controller code and HMI code, then each domain can be independently modified, but storage costs increase due to duplication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the controller object and HMI object into a single unified object that contains both controller logic and HMI display logic. This unified object is stored once in the object library, eliminating the need to maintain separate duplicate objects for each domain, thereby reducing processing overhead and storage costs while still allowing independent modification of either controller or HMI properties.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate software objects are maintained for controller code and HMI code, then modifications can be made to each domain, but syncing issues arise between controller and HMI
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the controller object and HMI object into a single unified object that contains both controller logic and HMI display logic. This unified object is stored once in the object library, eliminating the need to maintain separate duplicate objects for each domain, thereby reducing processing overhead and storage costs while still allowing independent modification of either controller or HMI properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects modifications to the unified object and propagates the changes to both the controller application and HMI application. This feedback mechanism ensures that both domains remain synchronized with the latest version of the object, preventing sync consistency issues while maintaining the ability to modify either domain.
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate software objects are maintained for controller code and HMI code, then each domain can be independently modified, but manual modifications are required in both domains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the controller object and HMI object into a single unified object that contains both controller logic and HMI display logic. This unified object is stored once in the object library, eliminating the need to maintain separate duplicate objects for each domain, thereby reducing processing overhead and storage costs while still allowing independent modification of either controller or HMI properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects modifications to the unified object and propagates the changes to both the controller application and HMI application. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for users to manually modify both domains, saving end-user time while maintaining the ability to modify either domain.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods and devices for facilitating object-based cross-domain industrial automation control. An object library comprising a plurality of objects may be maintained. One or more of the objects may represent physical counterparts for use in an industrial automation process. Each object of the plurality of objects in the object library may have at least one property that an automated control device operation can be programmed to act on. Each object of the plurality of objects may also have at least one property that a human machine interface component can utilize in generating display elements corresponding to the objects for display on the human machine interface. When modifications to objects in the object library are received, those modifications may be automatically deployed and incorporated in controller logic and HMI graphics and control.