Containerized Industrial Automation Control With Lower OT-IT Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face limitations in control operations and bandwidth usage within operational technology (OT) networks, particularly when communicating data between OT and information technology (IT) networks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of software containers within industrial automation systems, which allows for the execution of control operations and data processing directly on industrial automation devices, reducing the need for extensive bandwidth and enabling more efficient control operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data communication between OT and IT networks is increased to enable more control operations, then the control capabilities are improved, but the bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments control operations into two categories: simple control operations executed locally by the automation device itself, and complex control operations that require IT network resources. This segmentation allows the device to perform basic controls without consuming OT-IT bandwidth, while only utilizing bandwidth for operations that truly require external processing power.
Solution Approach 2:
The industrial automation device is equipped with self-service capabilities through software containers that enable it to execute control operations autonomously without requiring constant communication with the IT network. The device can independently handle control tasks, reducing dependency on network bandwidth while maintaining operational versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If software containers are implemented to enable more control operations locally, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Software containers provide a universal execution environment that can host multiple control applications and services within a single standardized framework. This multi-functionality approach allows diverse control operations to be implemented without proportionally increasing device complexity, as containers handle the complexity management internally through standardized interfaces and resource isolation.
3Loss of energy
If data processing is performed locally on automation devices, then bandwidth consumption is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The software container acts as an intermediary layer between the automation device hardware and the control applications. This intermediary manages the complexity of local data processing by providing standardized interfaces, resource management, and execution environments, allowing the device to perform local processing without proportionally increasing operational complexity for end users.
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial automation device includes first processing circuitry configured to perform a first set of operations associated with controlling the industrial automation device or one or more industrial automation devices communicatively coupled to the industrial automation device. The industrial automation device includes input/output circuitry communicatively couplable to an electronic device having second processing circuitry that is configured to execute computer-readable instructions to execute a software container and receive, in the software container, data from the industrial automation device, the one or more industrial automation devices, or both. The second processing circuitry executes the computer-readable instructions to perform, using the software container, a second set of operations associated with controlling the industrial automation device or the one or more industrial automation devices. The second processing circuitry is also executes the computer-readable instructions to adjust an operation of the industrial automation device based on the second set of operations.