Industrial Development Hub for Virtual Control Code Collaboration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face challenges in efficient development and testing due to complexity and the lack of virtualization and simulation capabilities, leading to long development cycles and cost overruns, as well as difficulties in managing and securing proprietary intellectual property.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based Industrial Development Hub (IDH) provides a repository system with enhanced storage and design tools, enabling easy management, backup, and restore of control project code and configurations, along with real-time design feedback and analytics to optimize control system development.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If industrial automation systems use traditional development and testing methods, then development can be completed with existing tools, but development cycles are long and costs overrun due to complexity and lack of virtualization capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements virtualization and simulation capabilities that allow development and testing to be performed in advance before actual deployment. The system creates virtual representations of industrial automation systems, enabling developers to test control logic, detect errors, and optimize performance during the design phase rather than during commissioning or operation, thus significantly reducing development cycle time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cloud-based platform as an intermediary between developers and physical industrial automation systems. This platform provides virtualization tools, simulation environments, and collaborative features that mediate the development process, allowing teams to work with virtual models instead of requiring immediate access to physical equipment, thereby accelerating development without compromising testing quality
2Reliability
If industrial automation systems implement comprehensive security measures for proprietary intellectual property, then security and IP protection are enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements cloud-based security mechanisms as intermediaries that handle authentication, authorization, and data protection without requiring complex local security infrastructure at each development station. The cloud platform centralizes security management, providing encrypted communication channels, role-based access control, and IP protection mechanisms that simplify the overall system architecture while maintaining high security standards
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses virtualization to create copies of the industrial automation system in a virtual environment. These virtual copies allow secure sharing and collaboration among multiple users without exposing proprietary intellectual property in physical form. The virtual models can be replicated, shared, and distributed through the cloud platform with built-in security measures, reducing the need for complex physical security controls
3Productivity
If multiple engineers collaborate on control project code and configurations, then development efficiency improves through code sharing and reuse, but managing and securing proprietary intellectual property becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a cloud-based platform as an intermediary that enables collaborative work among multiple engineers while maintaining IP protection. The platform provides centralized code repositories, version control, and collaborative editing capabilities with built-in security measures including authentication, authorization, and encrypted communication. This intermediary architecture allows efficient collaboration without requiring engineers to share sensitive information through insecure channels
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses virtualization to create virtual copies of control project code and configurations that can be safely shared and manipulated during collaboration. Engineers work with virtual models and simulated environments rather than directly accessing proprietary source code, allowing code reuse and collaboration while maintaining IP protection. The cloud platform manages these virtual copies with controlled access rights
Data Source
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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.