SDA Workload Distribution for Flexible Yet Stable Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional automation systems are inflexible, complex, and lack central management, leading to inefficiencies, vulnerability to security risks, and difficulties in data aggregation and system recovery, especially in large-scale industrial control networks.
Innovation Solution
The Software-defined Automation (SDA) technology transforms traditional automation architectures into flexible, 'flatter' systems by using fog platforms, private clouds, and software interfaces, enabling dynamic configuration, centralized management, and integration of IT and OT systems through virtualization, SDN, and TSN technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional automation systems are used, then system stability is maintained, but flexibility and adaptability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the automation system into multiple independent virtual machines that can be dynamically created, migrated, and managed. Each virtual machine represents a discrete automation function or process control module, allowing individual modification without affecting the entire system. This segmentation enables flexible reconfiguration while maintaining overall system stability through isolated operation of individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic workload migration capabilities where virtual machines can be moved between physical hosts based on operational requirements. The system dynamically adjusts resource allocation, scales automation functions up or down, and reconfigures system architecture in real-time. This dynamic behavior provides adaptability while maintaining stability through controlled transitions and state preservation during migrations.
2Ease of operation
If centralized management is implemented, then system coordination improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud-based management platform as an intermediary layer between operators and the distributed automation system. This platform provides centralized control capabilities including virtual machine provisioning, workload migration, resource allocation, and system monitoring. The intermediary abstracts the underlying complexity, presenting simplified interfaces and automated workflows that reduce operational burden while maintaining comprehensive system coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes virtualization to create virtual copies of automation functions and processes. Virtual machines serve as software-based replicas that can be instantiated, cloned, and managed centrally without requiring physical duplication of hardware. This copying approach enables centralized management of multiple instances while reducing the complexity of physical system configuration and maintenance.
3Reliability
If data is distributed across multiple devices, then system reliability improves, but data aggregation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges distributed data from multiple automation devices and virtual machines into a unified cloud-based data repository. The management platform consolidates process data, operational parameters, and system state information from distributed sources, providing centralized access and analysis capabilities. This merging approach maintains the reliability benefits of distributed data collection while eliminating the complexity of data aggregation through automated data collection and unified storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud management platform serves as an intermediary that automatically collects, standardizes, and aggregates data from distributed automation devices. The intermediary layer handles data normalization, validation, and consolidation, presenting unified data views to operators and analysis tools. This approach maintains distributed data collection for reliability while simplifying data access and aggregation through automated intermediary processing.
4Productivity
If virtualization is used, then resource utilization improves, but system vulnerability to security risks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the virtualized system into isolated virtual machines with controlled access boundaries. Each virtual machine operates in an isolated environment with defined resource allocations and access permissions. This segmentation enables high resource utilization through shared physical infrastructure while mitigating security risks by containing potential vulnerabilities within individual virtual boundaries and preventing lateral movement of threats.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud management platform acts as a security intermediary that enforces access controls, monitors virtual machine operations, and manages security policies. The intermediary layer provides centralized security management, including authentication, authorization, and threat detection, while enabling efficient resource utilization through virtualization. This approach maintains the productivity benefits of resource sharing while reducing security vulnerabilities through controlled access and centralized security oversight.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of a software defined automation (SDA) system that provides a reference architecture for designing, managing and maintaining a highly available, scalable and flexible automation system. A method is disclosed for arranging workloads in an SDA system including determining tasks of predetermined device functions, assessing industrial operational parameters for each task of the device functions; and ranking the tasks by the industrial operational parameters. The method continues by distributing tasks over automation devices based on the industrial operational parameters.