Industrial DSL IDE for Unified Automation Programming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face challenges in integrated programming and configuration due to the need for separate development environments for different aspects of the system, leading to piecemeal design approaches and significant testing and debugging efforts, with limited user interfaces that restrict programming flexibility.
Innovation Solution
An integrated development environment (IDE) is introduced that uses a domain-specific language (DSL) for industrial control programming, enabling integrated, multi-discipline programming of control, visualization, and other aspects of industrial automation systems, with features spanning the full automation lifecycle, including design, installation, operation, and troubleshooting, and supporting customization of the programming interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate development environments are used for different aspects of industrial automation systems, then each aspect can be developed independently, but the overall system requires significant testing and debugging efforts and follows a piecemeal design approach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate development environments into a single integrated development environment (IDE) that supports programming for control logic, visualization, and other automation aspects simultaneously. This merging eliminates the need for separate environments and reduces the piecemeal design approach, thereby reducing testing and debugging time while maintaining ease of programming through unified tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The IDE is designed as a universal platform that performs multiple functions including control programming, visualization development, and system configuration within a single environment. This multi-functionality allows users to work across different automation disciplines without switching tools, reducing overall development time and effort.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate development environments are used for different aspects of industrial automation systems, then each tool can be specialized, but the user interface is limited and programming flexibility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The IDE provides a universal interface that supports multiple programming paradigms and automation disciplines (control, visualization, configuration) within a single toolset. This universality enhances programming flexibility without requiring users to manage multiple separate tools, thereby reducing perceived complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The IDE features a dynamic, configurable user interface that can adapt to different programming tasks and user preferences. This dynamic nature allows the interface to be customized for various automation disciplines, providing programming flexibility without requiring multiple static tools, thus reducing overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If an integrated development environment is introduced with domain-specific language, then integrated multi-discipline programming is enabled and development cycle is reduced, but the system requires parsing and compilation infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer consisting of a parser and compiler that translates the domain-specific language (DSL) into executable code and intermediate representations. This intermediary infrastructure enables integrated multi-discipline programming and accelerates the development cycle by automating code generation and validation, while the complexity is confined to the translation layer rather than affecting the user interface or overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial IDE supports development of control programming using an industrial domain-specific language (DSL) that allows control programming to be written using a scripted programming language having features catered to the industrial domain. The industrial DSL can simplify and streamline development of industrial control code relative to using conventional graphics-based control programming formats such as ladder logic, since a script-based industrial DSL can be used to write programming code using fewer mouse clicks relative to traditional control programming environments. Editing tools inherent to the industrial DSL can provide dynamic programming feedback that guides the developer through the process of developing control code. The industrial IDE can also provide tools that extend the platform to users who wish to customize the industrial DSL to suit their preferred programming approaches.