Cloud Control Project Conversion for Industrial Automation Development
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face challenges in development cycles due to complexity and custom nature, leading to project delays and cost overruns, as well as difficulties in managing proprietary intellectual property and protecting against cyber-attacks, especially with the lack of current virtualization and simulation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based Industrial Development Hub (IDH) with enhanced storage and design tools supports development and testing, providing a repository for control project code, device configurations, and digital aspects, facilitating easy discovery, management, backup, restore, code conversion, and version management, along with simulation and remote access features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If industrial automation systems use traditional development methods, then development can be performed with existing tools, but project delays and cost overruns occur due to complexity and custom nature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the industrial automation development process by introducing a runtime environment that separates execution from development. This allows standardized service segments to be pre-configured and reused, reducing the complexity of custom development while maintaining productivity through modular assembly of standardized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring runtime environments with necessary services, libraries, and configurations before actual project development. This advance preparation eliminates repetitive setup tasks during project execution, directly addressing productivity losses from complex custom configuration work.
2Ease of operation
If proprietary intellectual property is stored locally, then security control is maintained, but access and collaboration are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud-based runtime environment as an intermediary between local devices and proprietary intellectual property. This mediator enables secure access and collaboration by providing controlled interfaces that maintain security protocols while facilitating remote development and testing activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating virtual instances of the runtime environment in the cloud that replicate local development capabilities. These copies enable remote access and collaboration without exposing the original proprietary intellectual property, as developers work with replicated environments that maintain security boundaries.
3Reliability
If virtualization capabilities are added to protect against cyber-attacks, then security is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a runtime environment that serves multiple functions: it provides security through virtualization, enables cloud-based development, supports remote access, and facilitates collaboration. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate complex systems into a single integrated platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service through automated provisioning and management of virtualized runtime environments. The system automatically handles security configurations, environment setup, and resource allocation, eliminating the need for manual complex security management while maintaining high security standards.
4Ease of operation
If cloud-based services are implemented, then remote access and collaboration are improved, but infrastructure costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting cloud resource allocation based on project needs. The runtime environment can scale computing, storage, and networking parameters up or down automatically, enabling remote access capabilities when needed while reducing infrastructure consumption during standard operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial development hub (IDH) supports industrial development and testing capabilities that are offered as a cloud-based service. The IDH comprises an enhanced storage platform and associated design tools that serve as a repository on which customers can store control project code, device configurations, and other digital aspects of an industrial automation project. The IDH system can facilitate discovery and management of digital content associated with control systems, and can be used for system backup and restore, code conversion, and version management. The IDH also supports storage and instantiation of virtual machine images preconfigured with digital engineering applications or project conversion that can be instantiated and executed remotely as part of a digital engineering services framework.