Open API Industrial IDE for Unified Automation Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face challenges due to the necessity of using separate configuration tools for programming and configuring disparate aspects of the automation system, leading to a piecemeal design approach with significant debugging and integration issues, and limited user experience in development interfaces.
Innovation Solution
An integrated development environment (IDE) that supports a common design environment and data model for configuring and managing automation system devices, offering a library of modular code and visualizations, and supporting open APIs for customization, including control programming, visualization, and device configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate configuration tools are used for programming and configuring disparate aspects of the automation system, then each tool can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall system complexity increases and integration issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate configuration tools into a single integrated development environment (IDE) that provides unified access to programming, configuration, and debugging functions. This merging eliminates the need to switch between disparate tools, reduces integration issues, and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining specialized functionality through modular components within the IDE.
Solution Approach 2:
The IDE is designed as a universal platform that performs multiple functions including programming, configuration, debugging, and deployment of automation systems. By consolidating these previously separate functions into one multi-functional environment, the system reduces complexity while preserving the specialized capabilities needed for each task through integrated tool modules.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate configuration tools are used for different automation system aspects, then each tool can maintain specialized functionality, but debugging and integration issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple configuration tools into a single IDE with a common data model, the patent ensures that all tools operate on the same underlying system representation. This unified approach eliminates integration issues between separate tools and improves debugging reliability, as all functions access and modify the same project data structures through standardized interfaces.
3Ease of operation
If a standardized IDE interface is used, then ease of use is improved, but customization options for specific user needs are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The IDE implements dynamic customization capabilities that allow users to adapt the interface and functionality to their specific needs. Users can customize toolbars, menus, and workspace layouts according to their preferences, and the system can dynamically adjust the interface based on the current task or project type, thereby maintaining ease of use while providing extensive adaptability.
4Productivity
If an integrated development environment is implemented, then development cycle time is reduced, but the initial system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The IDE is architecturally segmented into modular components, each handling specific functions such as programming, configuration, debugging, and deployment. This segmentation allows the complex functionality to be organized into manageable, independent modules that can be developed, maintained, and extended separately, thereby reducing the burden of initial system complexity while enabling rapid integrated development.
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.