Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Matthew W Fordenwalt

Jessica Lin Korpela

David Alan Vasko

Matthew Robert Ericsson

Kyle K Reissner

Jimi R Michalscheck

Kelly A Michalscheck

Andrew Wilber

John J Jauquet

John Strohmenger

Jan Pingel

Douglas B Weber

Stephen L Hickox

A cloud-based modeler component that generates interactive models of an industrial automation system(s) (IAS(s)) is presented. An interactive model facilitates remote viewing of, interaction with, troubleshooting of problems with, or optimization of industrial assets of an IAS. The modeler component polls industrial assets via cloud gateways to obtain information relating to the industrial assets to identify industrial assets of the IAS and relationships with other industrial assets or can receive information from a communication device that obtains information relating to legacy industrial assets to identify those legacy assets and their relationships. The modeler component generates an interactive model of the industrial assets of the IAS based on the information. The modeler component also can discover new industrial assets added to the IAS, can receive a pre-deployed model of an industrial asset from the industrial asset or another source, and can incorporate the pre-deployed model in the interactive model.

Modeling of an industrial automation environment in the cloud

A cloud-based analytics engine that analyzes data relating to an industrial automation system(s) to facilitate enhancing operation of the industrial automation system(s) is presented. The analytics engine can interface with the industrial automation system(s) via a cloud gateway(s) and can analyze industrial-related data obtained from the industrial automation system(s). The analytics engine can determine correlations between respective portions or aspects of the system(s), between a portion(s) or aspect(s) of the system(s) and extrinsic events or conditions, or between an employee(s) and the system(s). The analytics engine can determine and provide recommendations or instructions in connection with the industrial automation system(s) to enhance system performance based on the determined correlations. The analytics engine also can determine when there is a deviation or potential of deviation from desired system performance by an industrial asset or employee, and provide a notification, a recommendation, or an instruction to rectify or avoid the deviation.

Cloud-based analytics for industrial automation

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 cloud-based industrial controller that controls devices, processes, and other assets of an industrial automation system via control algorithms that execute on a cloud platform is presented. A cloud-based collection component collects information from the industrial automation system via cloud gateways associated with the industrial automation system or extrinsic data sources. The cloud-based industrial controller can monitor and analyze the information, generate control instructions based on the analysis results, and communicate the control instructions to the devices, processes, and/or other assets of the industrial automation system to control operation of the industrial automation system. The cloud-based industrial controller also can interface with a industrial plant-based industrial controller, wherein the cloud-based industrial controller can determine supplemental control instructions to the industrial plant-based industrial controller, based on the information, including extrinsic information, to assist in controlling the industrial automation system and control decision-making.

Cloud-based industrial controller

Cloud-based backup provides a back up of an industrial plant comprising an industrial automation system(s) (IAS(s)). A cloud-based backup component comprising a modeler component can generate a model of industrial assets of the IAS(s) and relationships between industrial assets based on information obtained from the industrial assets via cloud gateways, a communication device associated with the IAS(s), or another source. The cloud-based backup component can store the model in a data store to be employed as a backup of the IAS(s) or to be used to configure a new IAS that is the same as or similar to the IAS(s). The model can be stored in the data store in a standardized or an agnostic format, wherein the backup component can translate the model to a format suitable to an IAS for which it is to be implemented based on characteristics associated with the IAS.

Backup of an industrial automation plant in the cloud

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

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 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.

Growing community of inventors

Hudson, OH, United States of America

Matthew W Fordenwalt