Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Andrew Wilber

David Alan Vasko

Matthew Robert Ericsson

Jessica Lin Korpela

Kyle K Reissner

Jimi R Michalscheck

Kelly A Michalscheck

John J Jauquet

Matthew W Fordenwalt

Jeromy Scott Humphrey

Michael James Lanphear

Joshua Searles

Matthew G White

Daniel A Vanbrocklin

Jason W Malzahn

Alex G Castle

Jerry L Foster

A multi-tenant, cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) manufacturing platform offers a variety of industrial applications to end customers—including but not limited to MES, ERP, quality management, supply chain management, and customer relationship management (CRM)—and implements associated architectural features that address a number of issues relating to data sharing, security, scalability, and other concerns.

Multi-tenant database replication and sharding

In one embodiment, a multi-purpose sensor may couple to a machine operating in an industrial environment and include numerous sensors disposed within the multi-purpose sensor to acquire sets of data associated with the machine or an environment surrounding the machine. A first portion of the sets of data may include historical sensor measurements over time for each of the sensors, and a second portion of the sets of data may include sensor measurements subsequent to when the first portion is acquired for each of the sensors. A processor of the multi-purpose sensor may determine a baseline collective signature based on the first portion, determine a subsequent collective signature based on the second portion, determine whether the collective signatures vary, and generate signals when a variance exists. The signals may cause a computing device, a cloud-based computing system, and/or a control/monitoring device to perform various actions.

Systems and methods for a multi-purpose sensing device for industrial automation equipment

A method for generating a report regarding prioritizations of industrial automation devices in an industrial system may include determining a first score for each of the industrial automation devices. The first score represents a relative importance of each of the industrial automation devices. The method may also include determining a second score for each of one or more parts of each of the industrial automation devices. The second score represents a relative importance of each of the parts with respect to each other. The method may also include generating the report comprising the parts, the industrial automation devices, the first score for each of the industrial automation devices, the second score for each of the parts, or any combination thereof, wherein the report is organized according to the first score, the second score, or based on a combination of the first score and the second score.

Systems and methods for maintaining equipment in an industrial automation environment

A first computing device in an industrial automation system may include an image sensor that captures a visual representation of a portion of a facility including a first industrial automation equipment as image data and a communication component that communicatively couples the first computing device to a second computing device via a communication network, in which the first computing device receives relevant information related to the first industrial automation equipment from the second computing device. The first computing may include a display component that displays a plurality of real objects that visually represent physical features in the portion of the facility based at least in part on the image data, in which the plurality of real objects include a first real object that visual represents physical features of the first industrial automation equipment; and that displays a first virtual object superimposed on at least a portion of the plurality of real objects based at least in part on the relevant information.

Systems and methods for presenting an augmented reality

A system may include an industrial automation device, a computing device configured to receive a first set of data associated with the industrial automation device, and a cloud-computing system. The cloud-computing system may receive the first set of data from the computing device, identify a second set of data associated with the industrial automation device based on the first set of data, and send the second set of data to the computing device when the second set of data is relevant to the first set of data.

Systems and methods for exchanging information between devices in an industrial automation environment

In one embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium may store computer instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive an input associated with placing a piece of industrial automation equipment offline, determine whether the input corresponds to one or more regulations associated with placing the piece of industrial automation equipment offline, display a first set of instructions regarding how to place the piece of industrial automation equipment offline when the input corresponds to the one or more regulations, and display a second set of instructions regarding how to place the piece of equipment offline when the input does not correspond to the one or more regulations.

Systems and methods for electronically tracking a status of industrial equipment

In one embodiment, a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium includes computer instructions stored thereon. The computer instructions, when executed by a processor, may cause the processor to receive historical data associated with placing a machine in an industrial environment offline, to determine one or more recommendations for the machine, one or more parts of the machine, or both based on the historical data, to determine an authority level of one or more users requesting to place the machine offline, and to display the one or more recommendations based on the authority level of the one or more users.

Systems and methods for recommending components for an industrial system

An industrial automation system includes a first computing device that communicatively couples to a second computing device via a communication network. The first computing device receives image data capturing a visual representation of industrial automation equipment in operation via the communication network, in which the image data is acquired by the second computing device; determines an identity of the industrial automation equipment based at least in part on the image data; determines relevant information regarding the industrial automation equipment based at least in part on the identity of the industrial automation equipment; and instructs the industrial automation equipment, the second computing device, the first computing device, the industrial automation system, a user, or any combination thereof to perform one or more operations in the industrial automation system based at least in part on the relevant information.

Systems and methods for virtually assessing an industrial automation system

In one embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium may include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, may receive a first set of data associated with a user, receive a second set of data associated with one or more lockout procedures performed by the user, receive a request to actuate a locking mechanism of an electronic lock configured to prevent a machine in an industrial automation application from being operational, and send a signal to the electronic lock to actuate the locking mechanism when the second set of data indicates that the lockout procedures have been performed by the user and the data corresponds to an authorized user.

Systems and methods for virtually tagging and securing industrial equipment

In one embodiment, a system includes an industrial automation device and a computing device. The computing device includes a display configured to display a set of procedures. The computing device also includes a processor configured to receive an input after each step of the set of procedures is performed by a user, analyze the input in view of one or more scoring factors associated with performance of the at least one step, determine a first score for the user, the industrial automation device, or both based on the scoring factors, and store the first score in a cloud-based computing system. The cloud-based computing system is configured to provide access to the first score.

Systems and methods for assessing a quality of an industrial enterprise

In one embodiment, a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium includes computer instructions configured to receive image data from an apparatus, wherein the image data comprises a person within a proximity to an industrial automation device, determine whether the person is wearing a set of personal protection equipment (PPE) based on the image data, disable one or more operations of the industrial automation device when the person is not wearing the set of PPE, and track a usage of the set of PPE.

Systems and methods for enhancing monitoring of an industrial automation system

In one embodiment, a system may include a multi-purpose sensor coupled to a machine operating in an industrial environment. The multi-purpose sensor may include a camera that obtains a first and second set of image data including images of the machine and an environment surrounding the machine. The first set of image data is associated with a baseline of the machine and the environment, and the second set of image data is acquired subsequent to when the first set is acquired. The system may include a computing device that may include a processor to receive the first and second set of image data, determine baseline positions of objects in the first set, determine subsequent positions of the objects in the second set, determine whether the subsequent positions vary from the baseline positions, and perform an action when the subsequent positions vary from the baseline positions.

Growing community of inventors

Franklin, WI, United States of America

Andrew Wilber