Open-API Industrial IDE for Multi-Discipline Automation Workflows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face challenges due to the need for separate configuration tools for disparate aspects of automation, leading to a piecemeal design approach and limited user interfaces that restrict integrated programming and configuration across multiple disciplines.
Innovation Solution
An integrated development environment (IDE) platform is provided that enables integrated, multi-discipline programming and configuration of industrial automation systems using a common design environment and data model, supporting features across the automation lifecycle, including design, installation, operation, and troubleshooting, with customizable interfaces and modular code specific to industry verticals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate configuration tools are used for different aspects of automation, then each tool can be specialized for its specific function, but the system complexity increases and integration becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate configuration tools into a single integrated development environment that can handle control programming, visualization development, device configuration, and system integration within one unified platform, eliminating the need for multiple disparate tools
Solution Approach 2:
The IDE is designed as a universal platform that performs multiple functions across different automation disciplines including control logic programming, HMI/SCADA visualization, device configuration, and system commissioning, allowing a single tool to replace several specialized tools
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate tools are used for integrated programming, then each tool can maintain its own interface design, but the user interface becomes fragmented and user experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple discipline-specific interfaces into a single unified user interface that provides consistent access to control programming, visualization, and device configuration functions, improving user experience through interface consistency
3Ease of operation
If a unified IDE platform is implemented, then integration and user experience improve, but the system requires higher complexity to support multiple disciplines
Solution Approach 1:
The IDE platform is segmented into modular components including control programming modules, visualization modules, device configuration modules, and commissioning modules, each handling specific automation tasks while working together through a common architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a common data model as an intermediary layer that enables seamless integration between different automation disciplines and tools, allowing unified project management without requiring complex point-to-point integrations
4Manufacturing precision
If separate tools are used for control programming and visualization, then each tool can be optimized for its specific task, but the development cycle extends due to lack of integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines control programming and visualization development into a single integrated environment, allowing simultaneous work on both aspects without the need to switch between separate tools, thereby reducing development cycle time
Solution Approach 2:
The IDE enables continuous development workflow where control programming and visualization can be developed concurrently within the same session, eliminating interruptions and context switching between separate tools
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial integrated development environment (IDE) supports open or extensible application programming interfaces (APIs) that enable end users (e.g., plant asset owners, original equipment manufacturers (OEM), system integrators, etc.) to build upon the IDE's development platform to create custom views or to code custom functionality. This can include, for example, defining a control programming syntax supported by the industrial IDE, customizing a development environment view afforded by the IDE's interface, modifying or creating project editing functions, defining customized programming guardrails designed to guide compliance with in-house programming standards, or other such IDE customizations.