Automation Object Testing in a Unified IDE for Cross-Platform Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing industrial automation systems require separate and piecemeal development environments for different aspects, leading to inefficient programming, testing, and debugging, which can result in inadequate testing and increased man-hours.
Innovation Solution
An integrated development environment (IDE) that supports a common design environment and data model for configuring and managing automation systems, incorporating a testing framework that verifies the operation of all aspects of the project holistically, using automation objects with associated test scripts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate development environments are used for different aspects of automation, then each aspect can be developed independently, but the overall system integration and testing become more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate development environments (control programming, HMI development, device configuration) into a single integrated development environment. This allows all automation aspects to be developed, tested, and validated together in one unified platform, eliminating the need for separate tools and reducing integration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated development environment provides universal functionality to handle multiple automation tasks simultaneously. It can program controllers, develop HMI interfaces, configure devices, and execute tests across all these areas within one system, making the development process more efficient and cohesive.
2Productivity
If piecemeal design approach is used, then development can proceed in discrete steps, but testing coverage becomes inadequate and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated development environment enables preliminary testing and validation of control code, HMI interfaces, and device configurations before final deployment. By incorporating test execution and validation capabilities within the development environment itself, potential issues can be identified and resolved early in the development process, improving reliability without sacrificing development speed.
3Measurement precision
If separate testing processes are used for different automation aspects, then each component can be tested individually, but overall testing time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges individual testing processes for control code, HMI interfaces, and device configurations into a single integrated testing framework. This unified approach allows all aspects to be tested together in coordination, reducing redundant testing activities and overall testing time while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated development environment enables continuous testing throughout the development process. Rather than performing separate, discrete testing phases, the system allows for ongoing validation of all automation aspects as they are developed, ensuring continuous testing coverage and reducing total testing time.
Data Source
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AI summary
An industrial integrated development environment (IDE) supports a testing framework that verifies operation of all aspects of the project (e.g., controller code, HMI screens or other visualizations, panel layouts, wiring schedules, etc.). As part of this testing framework, automation objects supported by the industrial IDE include associated test scripts designed to execute one or more test scenarios appropriate to the type of automation object or project being tested. Test scripts can also be associated with portions of the system project. The testing platform applies testing to the automation project as a whole in a holistic manner rather than to specific portions of a control program, verifying linkages across design platforms (e.g., control code, visualization, panel layouts, wiring, piping, etc.) that may otherwise not be tested.