Software-Defined Automation Management for Cross-Environment Remediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional automation systems lack flexibility and central management, leading to complexity, inefficiency, and vulnerability to security risks and disasters, with rigid architectures that hinder dynamic changes and holistic system optimization.
Innovation Solution
The Software-defined Automation (SDA) technology introduces a flexible, 'flatter' architecture with centralized management, using fog platforms or private clouds to host control systems, enabling distributed intelligence, real-time networking, and smart connected devices that can adapt and make decisions, thereby simplifying deployment, configuration, and data management across the entire automation lifecycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional automation systems use distributed control architecture, then system reliability is improved through local control, but device complexity increases and centralized management becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized management system that acts as an intermediary between control systems and automation devices. This management system provides unified configuration, monitoring, and control capabilities across distributed devices, reducing management complexity while preserving the reliability benefits of distributed control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The management system is designed as a universal platform that can manage multiple types of automation devices and control systems through standardized interfaces. This multi-functional approach consolidates various management tasks into a single system, reducing overall device complexity and improving ease of operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional automation systems use rigid architecture, then manufacturing precision is maintained through stable control, but adaptability decreases and dynamic changes are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration capabilities that allow the automation system to adapt its architecture and control parameters in real-time. The system can dynamically add, remove, or modify control devices and parameters while maintaining stable operation, thus preserving manufacturing precision while increasing adaptability to changing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The management system enables dynamic modification of control parameters and system configuration without requiring physical reconfiguration. This allows precise control parameters to be adjusted and optimized based on changing manufacturing requirements, maintaining precision while enhancing system versatility.
3Ease of operation
If traditional automation systems lack centralized management, then ease of operation is improved through local autonomy, but loss of information increases and holistic optimization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements comprehensive feedback mechanisms where the centralized management system continuously collects data from distributed control devices and provides real-time visibility of system-wide operations. This feedback loop enables holistic optimization while preserving local autonomy, as local devices continue to operate independently while contributing data to the centralized system for overall optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The management system merges data from multiple distributed control sources into a unified view, eliminating information loss without interfering with local autonomous operations. This consolidation enables system-wide optimization and better decision-making while maintaining the ease of operation benefits of distributed control.
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional automation systems use conventional architecture, then ease of manufacture is maintained through standardization, but productivity decreases due to inefficiency and security vulnerabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional hardware-based control systems with software-defined automation devices that run on standardized computing platforms. This substitution maintains ease of manufacture through standardization while dramatically improving productivity through enhanced processing capabilities, efficiency optimizations, and integrated security features that are not available in traditional mechanical or electronic control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of system and methods for providing centralized management of a software defined automation (“SDA”) system are disclosed. The SDA system comprises of a collection of controller nodes and logically centralized and yet physically distributed collection of compute nodes by monitoring activities of the compute nodes. In accordance with some embodiments, one or more components of the system monitor execution, network and security environments of the system to detect an event in a first environment. In response to the detected event, at least one component in the first environment is remediated, the remediation of the first environment creating a trigger to cause remediation of at least one component in each of a second and third environments.