Mobile Scalable Compute Module for Industrial Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional mobile applications for industrial operations lack the ability to write back control system data directly to industrial controllers and do not function as both data-consuming and data-producing adapters, limiting their interaction capabilities with industrial devices.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a real-time communication connection through a common gateway platform, enabling mobile applications to configure and interact with industrial controllers and devices, and allowing for the exchange of control system data and data analytics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional mobile applications are used for industrial operations, then the application can display and receive data, but the application cannot write back control system data directly to industrial controllers
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device is configured to perform multiple functions: it acts as both a data-consuming application and a data-producing adapter. The device can receive operational data from industrial controllers, process it locally, and write control system data back to the controllers, eliminating the need for separate dedicated adapter hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
A gateway platform serves as an intermediary between the mobile device and the industrial controller. The gateway enables bidirectional communication by receiving operational data from the controller and transmitting it to the mobile device, while also forwarding control commands from the mobile device back to the controller.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mobile applications only function as data-consuming clients, then the application architecture remains simple, but the application cannot perform data analytics or produce control data
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile application is transformed from a simple data-display client into a multi-functional system that can consume operational data, perform data analytics processing, generate control commands, and write data back to industrial controllers. This universal functionality consolidates multiple roles into a single device.
3Productivity
If real-time communication is established through a gateway platform, then data exchange capability is improved, but network infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway platform acts as a mediating server that establishes real-time communication connections between mobile devices and industrial controllers. It receives operational data from controllers, processes it into notification messages, and delivers them to mobile devices, while also handling reverse communication for control data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time feedback loops where operational data flows from industrial controllers to mobile devices for monitoring and analysis, and control commands flow back from mobile devices to controllers. The gateway platform enables this bidirectional feedback mechanism continuously.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques to facilitate interactions with industrial devices in an industrial automation environment are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, a realtime communication connection is established through a common gateway platform to an industrial controller. A realtime notification message is received comprising industrial data and display instructions encoded into a text string generated by the industrial controller, the display instructions comprising display properties for the industrial data that specify how to display the industrial data on a computing device. The text string is processed to generate and render a display of the industrial data for display on the computing device according to the display properties provided in the display instructions.