Virtual Machine Infrastructure for Industrial Automation Development
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face challenges in development cycles due to the complexity of OT-level systems, lack of virtualization and simulation capabilities, leading to project delays and cost overruns, as well as difficulties in managing proprietary intellectual property and protecting against cyber-attacks.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based Industrial Development Hub (IDH) with enhanced storage and design tools supports development and testing, providing a repository for control project code, device configurations, and digital aspects, facilitating easy discovery, management, backup, and restore, along with simulation and virtualization capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If industrial automation systems are developed using traditional methods without virtualization, then development processes are simpler, but project delays and cost overruns occur due to complexity of OT-level systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of industrial automation systems through virtual machine images that replicate the functionality of physical OT-level systems. These virtual instances allow developers to test and simulate control projects without requiring actual hardware, thereby accelerating development while managing system complexity through abstraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cloud-based development environment as an intermediary between developers and physical industrial systems. This intermediate layer provides virtualization capabilities, simulation tools, and collaborative features that simplify the development process while maintaining compatibility with complex OT-level systems through standardized interfaces.
2Productivity
If virtualization and simulation capabilities are added to accelerate development, then productivity improves, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal cloud-based development platform that serves multiple functions: virtual machine hosting, simulation environment, collaborative workspace, and project management. This multi-functional system consolidates what would otherwise require separate infrastructure components, providing virtualization and simulation capabilities while managing overall system complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service provisioning of virtual machine instances and development environments through automated cloud infrastructure. Developers can independently deploy, configure, and manage virtual instances without requiring manual intervention for complex infrastructure setup, thereby improving productivity while the automated systems handle the complexity of virtualization management.
3Ease of operation
If cloud-based virtual machine infrastructure is used, then collaboration and accessibility improve, but security risks and IP protection challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a secure, isolated virtual environment for executing industrial control projects on cloud infrastructure. This controlled environment acts as an inert atmosphere that protects proprietary intellectual property by sandboxing applications and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data, while still enabling remote collaboration through secure interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses virtual machine images as secure copies of development environments that can be replicated and distributed across cloud instances. These virtual copies enable remote access and collaboration while maintaining security through isolation, as each virtual instance operates independently with controlled access to underlying infrastructure and data.
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial development hub (IDH) supports industrial development and testing capabilities that are offered as a cloud-based service. The IDH comprises an enhanced storage platform and associated design tools that serve as a repository on which customers can store control project code, device configurations, and other digital aspects of an industrial automation project. The IDH system can facilitate discovery and management of digital content associated with control systems, and can be used for system backup and restore, code conversion, and version management. The IDH also supports storage and instantiation of virtual machine images preconfigured with digital engineering applications that can be instantiated and executed remotely as part of a digital engineering services framework.