Industrial Automation Test Mode for Adaptive Data Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing industrial automation systems face challenges in adaptively collecting data tailored to specific services, such as remote monitoring and performance optimization, due to the need for different sets of data for various applications.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a test concept that allows industrial automation devices to temporarily use alternative parameter settings during a test run, enabling adaptive data collection with varying granularities and settings for different purposes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different parameter settings are used for different services, then data collection adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata collection adaptabilityVSAvoidparameter management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures multiple parameter sets corresponding to different services (remote monitoring, performance optimization, troubleshooting) before actual data collection begins. Each parameter set is prepared in advance and can be selectively activated based on the required service, avoiding the need to manually configure parameters during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables dynamic switching between different parameter sets by changing configuration parameters based on the selected service mode. This allows the same device to adapt its data collection behavior for different purposes without hardware modifications or complex reprogramming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If detailed data collection is used for troubleshooting, then measurement precision is improved, but data transmission load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetroubleshooting data accuracyVSAvoiddata transmission energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different data collection granularities to different service scenarios. For troubleshooting, detailed high-precision data collection is enabled locally at the device. For routine monitoring, less detailed data is collected. This localized adaptation of data quality ensures high measurement precision when needed while minimizing unnecessary data transmission during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If temporary parameter settings are implemented for testing, then adaptability is improved, but reliability risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest configuration flexibilityVSAvoidparameter setting reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a test mode intermediary state that acts as a buffer between permanent configurations and temporary test settings. When test mode is activated, temporary parameter sets are applied; when deactivated, the original permanent settings are restored. This intermediary mechanism prevents accidental permanent changes while allowing flexible testing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares backup copies of original parameter settings before applying any temporary test configurations. This beforehand cushioning ensures that if something goes wrong during testing, the system can automatically or manually revert to the backed-up original settings, protecting against reliability risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP4105741B1Collecting data on an industrial automation device
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP4105741B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4105741B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4105741B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

To provide adaptiveness to data collected on an industrial automation device, a test is used for a specific need. A set of parameter values to be used during the test are temporary and send to the industrial automation device with an indication of a test. Before the test is run, existing parameter values are backed up, and they are restored after the test.