Abstract: An industrial simulation system exchanges data between a virtualized industrial system and an industrial controller at high frequencies and accuracies without the need for additional network emulation hardware. Rather than timing the sending of emulated device data packets from the simulation to the industrial controller using an operating system clock, the simulation system uses the arrival event of a data packet received from the industrial controller as the clock signal that drives the sending of data packets from the virtual system to the controller. Using the arrival time of data packets from the industrial controller as the clock signal rather than the system clock of the operating system can yield high accuracy, low jitter data exchanges during simulation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a switching device including a housing having a front housing and a rear housing. The rear housing includes a rear housing face, and a first sidewall, first end a second sidewall, and a second end wall projecting from the rear housing face to form at least one interior chamber. The sidewalls of the rear housing include a rear housing tab that projects away from the rear housing face. The switching device further includes a splitter plate support, comprising first and second support panels, located within the interior chamber. The first support panel further includes a support hook that extends from the outer panel face. The support hook has an aperture that engages the rear housing tab, in which the rear housing tab extends through the aperture of the support hook, forming a double-walled panel and reinforcing the housing.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium includes instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to receive sensory datasets associated with an industrial automation system from sensors, receive positioning data via an extended reality device associated with a user, determine a first virtual positioning of the user in a virtual coordinate system based on the positioning data, determine a second virtual positioning of an industrial automation system in the virtual coordinate system based on the sensory datasets, determine output representative data to be presented by the extended reality device based on the plurality of sensory datasets and in accordance to the first virtual positioning relative to the second virtual positioning, and instruct the extended reality device to present the output representative data.

Abstract: A method for correlating data from sensors includes receiving sensor information from a plurality of sensors of an industrial operation. Sensor information from component sensors is used for functionality of a component of the industrial operation and sensor information from additional sensors monitor conditions of a portion of the industrial operation different from the component. The method includes deriving, using the sensor information, correlations between component sensors and additional sensors and deriving a baseline signature from the sensor information and the correlations. The baseline signature encompasses a range of normal operating conditions. The method includes identifying an abnormal operating condition based on a comparison between additional sensor information and the baseline signature. The sensor information is used differently for functionality of the component than for deriving the correlations and baseline signature and identifying the abnormal operating condition.

Abstract: An independent cart system provides a track assembly having a first, second, and third portion with the first and second portions providing drive coils mounted along the length of the track and flanking the second portion devoid of drive coils, the second portion providing an energy transfer coil. A plurality of movers operative to travel along the track, and have a drive member and a pick-up coil mounted for electrical interaction with the energy transfer coil when a given mover is aligned with a given second track portion. The first and second track portions include current drive circuits providing current to respective drive coils to generate electromagnetic fields which engages mover drive members to propel each movers along the track and the second track portion includes an energy transfer circuit providing current to the energy transfer coil to transfer electrical energy through mutual inductance to pick-up coils of the movers.

Abstract: A method may include receiving a command to move one or more armatures of a switching device from a first position that electrically couples a first contact to a second contact to a second position that electrically uncouples the first contact from the second contact. The method may also include selecting a current zero-crossing point along an electric waveform indicative of a change in current through the first contact and the second contact as a synchronization point, determining a predicted current zero-crossing point by adding a period measurement associated with a previously detected current zero-crossing point or a previously detected line-to-line crossing point in the electric waveform to the synchronization point, and transmitting a command to the switching device to move the armatures from the first position to the second position before or at the predicted current zero-crossing point.

Abstract: Synchronization of multiple vehicles in an independent cart system to reduce spacing and increase throughput designates one of the movers as a leader and at least one additional mover as a follower, defining a chain of vehicles. A motion command for the chain is provided to a controller for the leader, and the controller generates a motion profile. The controller passes this motion profile to a controller for each of the follower movers. If the follower is unable to maintain the motion profile for the leader, the controller for the follower generates a message to the controller for the leader indicating a modification to the motion profile is required. The controller for the leader modifies the motion profile and forwards the modified motion profile to controllers for each follower. If all movers are following the modified profile, the controller for the leader may return to the original motion profile.

Abstract: An industrial integrated development environment (IDE) supports a virtual design environment that allows an automation system designer to perform project development via interaction with a virtual reality presentation of the plant facility. The industrial design environment can generate system project data for an automation project—including but not limited to device selections, industrial control programming, device configurations, visualizations, engineering drawings, etc. —based on the developer's manual interactions with the virtual reality presentation. These interactions can include, for example, placing and moving machines or other industrial assets within the virtualized environment, defining trajectories of motion devices or robots using manual gestures, or other such interactive input.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software disclosed herein relate to a common gateway platform system. In an implementation, program instructions direct a computing system to execute a common gateway platform environment comprising an adapter comprising an adapter name identification, a broker connected to the adapter, and an application connected to the adapter. The application also generates an action configured according to a common gateway platform protocol, transmit the action to the broker, and receive a reaction from the broker. The broker is configured to identify the adapter based on the adapter identifier and transmit the action to the adapter. The broker also receives the reaction from the adapter and transmit the reaction to the application. The adapter is configured to acquire the data from the industrial automation environment based on an adapter instruction in the action, generate the reaction comprising the acquired data, and transmit the reaction to the broker.

Abstract: An industrial automation component may receive a first set of data associated with the industrial automation component, such that the industrial automation component is associated with a first industrial automation system. The industrial automation component may then receive a second set of data associated with one or more other industrial automation components, such that the one or more other industrial automation components are associated with one or more other industrial automation systems. The industrial automation component may then identify one or more similar patterns in the first set of data and the second set of data and adjust one or more operations of the industrial automation component based on the similar patterns.

Abstract: An industrial integrated development environment (IDE) includes a training component that improves the IDE's automated design tools over time based on analysis of aggregated project data submitted by developers over time. The industrial IDE can apply analytics (e.g., artificial intelligence, machine learning, etc.) to project data submitted by developers across multiple industrial enterprises to identify commonly used control code, visualizations, device configurations, or control system architectures that are frequently used for a given industrial function, machine, or application. This learned information can be encoded in a training module, which can be leveraged by the IDE to generate programming, visualization, or configuration recommendations. The IDE can automatically add suitable control code, visualizations, or configuration data to new control projects being developed based on an inference of the developer's design goals and knowledge of how these goals have been implemented by other developers.

Abstract: An improved system and method for providing safety-rated operation of a motor and motor drive controlling operation of a load with stored potential energy includes a two-channel method of monitoring and retaining control of the load. A first safety channel is configured to control operation of a holding brake, which provides sufficient holding force to retain the stored potential energy in the load. A second safety channel is configured to independently enable and disable torque production from the motor drive controlling operation of the motor. When torque production from the motor drive is enabled, the motor drive and motor are able to provide sufficient torque to retain the stored potential energy in the load. Monitoring and subsequent control of each safety channel is provided to ensure that a single failure in either channel will not cause the unexpected release of the stored potential energy from the load.

Abstract: An industrial integrated development environment (IDE) comprises a development interface that affords a user a great deal of control over the editing tools, workspace canvases, and project information rendered at a given time. The industrial IDE system automatically filters the tools, panels, and information available for selection based on a current project development task, such that a focused subset of editing tools relevant to a current development task or context are made available for selection while other tools are hidden. The development interface also allows the user to selectively render or hide selected tools or information from among the relevant, filtered set of tools. This can reduce or eliminate unnecessary clutter and aid in quickly and easily locating and selecting a desired editing function. The IDE's development interface can also conform to a structured organization of workspace canvases and panels that facilitates intuitive workflow.

Abstract: Techniques to facilitate interactions with industrial devices in an industrial automation environment are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, a realtime communication connection is established through a common gateway platform to an industrial controller. A realtime notification message is received comprising industrial data and display instructions encoded into a text string generated by the industrial controller, the display instructions comprising display properties for the industrial data that specify how to display the industrial data on a computing device. The text string is processed to generate and render a display of the industrial data for display on the computing device according to the display properties provided in the display instructions.

Abstract: Blockchain-enabled industrial devices and associated systems are configured to support the use of industrial blockchains in connection with product and machine tracking, subscription-based industrial services, device lifecycle management, and other functions. Collections of industrial devices can collectively serve as an industrial blockchain system, with multiple such systems within a supply chain yielding an industrial blockchain ecosystem. This architecture can create distributed, decentralized, tamper-proof records of manufacturing statistics for a product, a product's history within the larger supply chain, industrial asset usage histories that can be leveraged in connection with lifecycle management, machine usage history for use in connection with subscription-based machine operation, and other such information.

Abstract: A method includes sending a first safety instruction to a machine in response to, within an entry window of time, receiving an open alert that a movable barrier is in an open state, where the movable barrier is at an entry point of an enclosure protecting personnel from the machine, receiving tag information of a person from a reader at the movable barrier, and confirming that the tag information belongs to a person authorized to enter the enclosure. The method includes sending a second safety instruction to the machine in response to, within the entry window of time, receiving the open alert, and without receiving tag information or confirming that the tag information belongs to a person authorized to enter the enclosure. The first and second safety instructions are different and the first safety instruction is less restrictive than the second safety instruction in terms of actions to prevent injury.

Abstract: An industrial information hub (IIH) serves as a single industrial ecosystem platform where multiple participants can deliver repeatable and standardized services relevant to their core competencies. The IIH system can interface with a work order management system to facilitate automated creation and submission of work orders for maintenance tasks. To this end, the IIH system can monitor real-time data from industrial devices and identify conditions indicative of a performance issue requiring a maintenance action. When such a condition is identified, the IIH system can initiate creation of a work order in the work order management system for tracking and recording of the maintenance task.

Abstract: An industrial information hub (IDH) serves as a single industrial ecosystem platform where multiple participants can deliver repeatable and standardized services relevant to their core competencies. The IIH system is centered around the development of an ecosystem that creates and delivers value to users—including industrial enterprises, OEMs, system integrators, vendors, etc.—through the aggregation of digital content and domain expertise. The IIH system serves as a trusted information broker between the ecosystem and the OT environments of plant facilities, and provides a platform for connecting assets, contextualizing asset data and providing secure access to the ecosystem. Additionally, the IIH system provides tools and support to OEMs and other subject matter experts, allowing those experts to enable their digital assets for use in the ecosystem. The IIH system reduces the cost and risks for digital transformation of industrial assets.

Abstract: A system and method of determining orientation of a physical location on a cart or end effector located on the cart in an independent cart system receives a feedback signal from a sensor on the cart. A multi-axis device may generate three or more signals corresponding to X, Y, and Z axes orientations. Processing may be performed on the signals to generate a value of yaw, pitch, or roll of the cart. The feedback or processed signals are transmitted from the mover to a remote device external from the track. The real-time orientation information may be used to implement closed-loop control of an actuator mounted on or external to each cart as the cart travels along the track. Power for the devices on the mover may be provided by a battery mounted on the cart or by a wireless power transfer system.

Abstract: An industrial integrated development environment (IDE) identifies modifications to an industrial control program using a combination of program hashing and text differencing. The system performs deep-level hashing of the control program's text model to obtain hash data comprising rung-level hash values that collectively represent the current state of the program. When edits to the program are received, the modified text model is hashed again to yield modified hash data, and differencing analysis is performed on the initial and modified hash data. Differences between the two sets of hash values are used to identify portions of the control program that have been modified so that the targeted updates to a logic view of the program can be implemented. This allows the logic view to be updated without redrawing the entire view, and without the need to store multiple copies of the program's object model for comparison purposes.