Distributed building automation controllers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Controlling complex building systems with hundreds of sensors and devices is challenging due to the vast number of possible states, leading to bandwidth and latency issues in cloud computing environments, and existing systems primarily react to past actions rather than optimizing for future conditions.
Innovation Solution
A distributed building automation system with multiple controllers, including a master controller, that computes and adjusts the operating behavior of defined spaces by determining the necessary device actions based on desired operating characteristics, sensor data, and device characteristics, allowing for self-healing networks and efficient energy management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If cloud computing environment is used to control building systems, then computing power for determining best device usage is improved, but bandwidth and latency issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the building automation system into multiple distributed controllers, each responsible for specific zones or devices. This segmentation allows local decision-making without requiring all computations to be performed centrally in the cloud, thereby reducing bandwidth requirements and latency while maintaining sufficient computing power for optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the control architecture, with distributed controllers operating at the edge level and cloud computing providing high-level coordination. This dimensional change allows local real-time responses (reducing latency) while still leveraging cloud computing power for complex optimizations that don't require immediate action.
2Loss of time
If distributed controllers are used to compute building operating behavior, then bandwidth and latency issues are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs distributed controllers with universal functionality, where each controller can perform multiple roles including local control, coordination with other controllers, and communication with the cloud. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized components and simplifies the overall system architecture despite the distributed nature.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed controllers are designed to autonomously make local decisions based on sensor data and pre-configured parameters, without requiring constant cloud intervention. This self-service capability reduces the computational burden on each individual controller while maintaining system-wide optimization, thereby managing complexity effectively.
3Device complexity
If traditional reactive control systems are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but energy consumption increases and equipment wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements predictive control algorithms that use historical data and environmental forecasts to anticipate future conditions and pre-adjust device states. This preliminary action allows the system to proactively optimize energy consumption and prevent equipment wear before problems occur, moving beyond simple reactive control while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates continuous feedback loops where sensors monitor actual device performance and environmental conditions, and this information is used to adjust control strategies in real-time. This feedback mechanism enables the system to learn from past actions and improve energy efficiency and equipment longevity without requiring overly complex architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Controllers that control a building's state functions can be controlled by a master controller that the controllers choose themselves. The master controller communicates with the controllers and sensors to determine when a building state should change. When the building state should change, the master controller or another controller determines the device or devices that need to modify state values of the building, and send messages to the devices so that they can change building state. If the master controller has a fault, the working controllers can choose another master controller. When a sensor indicates that a building state needs to be changed the master controller determines which device should change state, then tells the controller that is attached to the device.