Edge Deployment Platform for Machine Tool Application Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for deploying industrial applications on heterogeneous manufacturing environments face challenges due to the heterogeneity of equipment configurations and protocols, requiring multiple versions of applications and limiting compatibility with different machine tools and data protocols.
Innovation Solution
A method and platform that utilize a generic machine tool model to transform data reports from edge computing devices into machine instance models, allowing for the conversion of generic industrial application requirements into machine tool-specific requirements, enabling the deployment of a single, instantiated industrial application on various manufacturing environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple versions of industrial applications are provided for different manufacturing environments, then compatibility with various machine configurations is improved, but application complexity and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal application architecture where a single industrial application can operate across multiple manufacturing environments with different machine configurations. The application is designed to be environment-agnostic, using standardized interfaces and configuration files to adapt to specific machines at runtime, eliminating the need to develop and maintain multiple versioned applications for different environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic configuration mechanisms that allow the application to adapt its behavior based on the specific manufacturing environment it encounters. Configuration files and parameter settings are loaded dynamically at runtime based on the detected machine type and environment, enabling the same application code to function correctly across diverse configurations without requiring multiple compiled versions.
2Ease of manufacture
If standard protocols are used to create generic applications, then ease of deployment is improved, but data access capability and protocol flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (such as an adapter pattern or protocol translation layer) that sits between the generic application and the specific machine protocols. This intermediary enables the application to communicate with diverse machine tools using standardized interfaces while maintaining the ability to access protocol-specific data through configured adapters, thus preserving both ease of deployment and protocol flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the application architecture into distinct modular components: a core generic application layer, protocol-specific adapter layers, and configuration layers. This segmentation allows the core application to remain protocol-agnostic and easily deployable, while protocol-specific functionality is isolated in separate adapter modules that can be selectively activated based on the target environment, maintaining flexibility without complicating the main application.
3Device complexity
If a single generic application is deployed across heterogeneous environments, then maintenance effort is reduced, but functionality and data access capability may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary configuration actions where environment-specific parameters, data point mappings, and adapter selections are pre-configured in configuration files before deployment. This allows the single generic application to automatically adapt to specific environments without requiring runtime modifications or multiple code versions, maintaining both low maintenance effort and full data access capability through pre-planned environmental adaptation.
4Reliability
If multiple versions of applications are maintained for different environments, then environment-specific optimization is improved, but deployment time and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal application binary that can run on all target environments, eliminating the need to compile, package, and deploy multiple versioned applications. The single application uses runtime configuration and environment detection to optimize its behavior for the specific target, achieving environment-specific optimization without the overhead of managing multiple application versions, thus reducing deployment time and resource consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
Method and platform for deployment of an industrial application on an edge computing device of a machine tool A deployment platform for deployment of an industrial application on an edge computing device, ECD, connected to the controller of a machine tool, MT, said deployment platform comprising a model management component, MMC, adapted to instantiate a generic machine tool model, GMTM, stored in a memory to provide a machine instance model, MIM, of the respective machine tool, MT, on the basis of a machine tool da-ta report, MTDR, received by the model management component, MMC, from the edge computing device, ECD, of the respective machine tool, MT, and further adapted to convert generic data requirements, gR, of a generic industrial application into machine tool specific requirements, mtsR, using the machine instance model, MIM, of the respective machine tool, MT, wherein an instantiated industrial application for the machine tool, MT, is provided by instantiating the generic in- dustrial application by extending its configuration data with machine tool specific requirements, mtsR, or by translating requirements at runtime wherein the instantiated industrial application is deployed by the model management component, MMC, of the deployment platform on the edge computing device, ECD, of the respective machine tool, MT.