Abstract: An apparatus to retain modules within a Motor Control Center (MCC) includes a plate mounted to each side of the module housing and at least one spring mounted to each plate within the module housing. The plate includes a hook at one end which connects to and pivots about an opening in the module while retaining the plate to the module. The plate also includes a retaining member extending through an opening in the module housing and configured to receive one end of the spring. The spring is under tension when connected between the retaining member of the plate and the module housing, pulling the retaining member toward the module housing. A biasing member which engages the housing of the MCC as the module is inserted is compressed toward the module during insertion. The spring pushes the biasing member outward after insertion, positively retaining the module to the MCC.

Abstract: A multidrop system configured to be installed within a motor control center (MCC) of an industrial automation system includes a trunkline. The trunkline includes multiple multidrop make and break devices connected through a trunkline cable. Each of the multidrop make and break device includes a first network component, and a second network component. The first network component is configured to form a first subnet over the trunkline. The second network component is configured to couple a MCC withdrawable unit and form a second subnet over a branchline that connects one or more nodes within the MCC withdrawable unit. The multidrop make and break device is configured to couple the MCC withdrawable unit to, and decouple the MCC withdrawable unit from, the second network component without disrupting the first subnet.

Abstract: An industrial integrated development environment (IDE) provides a development framework for designing, programming, and configuring multiple aspects of an industrial automation system using a common design environment and data model. Projects creating using embodiments of the IDE system can be built on an object-based model rather than, or in addition to, a tag-based architecture. To this end, the IDE system can support the use of automation objects that serve as building blocks for this object-based development structure. These automation objects represent corresponding physical industrial assets and have associated programmatic attributes relating to those assets. Automation objects can be maintained in shared libraries that can be referenced by system projects. The IDE system can notify projects that reference these automation objects of updates to the object libraries, including edits to existing objects or addition of new objects.

Abstract: Protective cover devices for associated electrical connectors include a one-piece molded polymeric body including at least one of: (i) at least one stud that is closely slidably received into a corresponding socket of the connector; (ii) a skirt that comprises a recess that receives at least part of the electrical connector therein. The protective cover device is adapted to be engaged with the associated electrical connector to inhibit contact between a surrounding corrosive atmosphere and at least one electrical contact of the associated electrical connector.

Abstract: A reversible adhesive apparatus includes a base and an adhesive layer. The base is configured with a series of concave and convex shapes at a top surface of the base according to some embodiments. The base is configured with a raised portion and a surrounding portion at a top surface of the base according to some other embodiments. The adhesive layer is disposed on top of the base. The adhesive layer configured to provide reversible adhesion on a top surface of the adhesive layer.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Embodiments of this present disclosure may include a system with a first power converter and a control system. The first power converter may supply a first output power to a first backplane at least sometimes concurrent to a second power converter supplying a second output power to a second backplane. The control system may be electrically coupled to the first backplane and the second backplane. The control system may balance a first electrical property and a second electrical property provided to each of one or more load components electrically coupled to the first backplane and the second backplane.

Abstract: Industrial smart data tags conforming to structured data types serve as the basis for creating a digital twin of an industrial asset. The digital twin can comprise an automation model and a mechanical model or other type of non-automation model, both of which reference the smart tags in connection with digitally modeling the industrial asset. The structured data topology offered by the smart tags allows the digital twin to be readily interfaced with artificial intelligence (AI) systems. AI analysis can leverage the smart tags to discover new relationships between key performance indicators and other variables of the asset and encode these relationships in the smart tags themselves. These enhanced smart tags can also be leveraged to perform AI-based validation the digital twin. Additional contextualization provided by the enhanced smart tags can simplify AI analysis and assist in quickly converging on desired analytic results.

Abstract: For polyharmonic flux motor loss increase, a method offsets pulse width modulation (PWM) carriers to a motor to increase motor harmonics. The offset PWM carriers increase energy losses for the motor.

Abstract: An industrial device data access adapter allows migration of operational technology (OT) data to a cloud platform to be executed and managed using the same cloud infrastructure used to manage migration of information technology (IT) data. The adapter is designed to be installed and executed as a containerized module on an IoT edge system or device. The adapter interfaces with industrial devices to collect data using native OT data format and communication protocols, and leverages the existing software framework of the IoT edge system—including data broker services and module management services—to move this data to a cloud platform. Since the adapter is designed to interface with the native framework of the IoT edge system on which the adapter executes, the adapter can be managed using through the existing IoT infrastructure of the cloud provider.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a hybrid circuit breaker for an industrial automation system. The hybrid circuit breaker may include a mechanical switch and solid-state switches. The hybrid circuit breaker may receive control signals to open and close a current path based on moving a spanner of the mechanical switch. In some cases, moving the spanner of the mechanical switch may generate electrical arcs when the hybrid circuit breaker is conducting electrical current. In such cases, the hybrid circuit breaker may remove the electrical arcs by drawing the electrical arcs to a conductive bar and away from the spanner. Moreover, the hybrid circuit breaker may dissipate the electrical arcs on the conductive bar by opening one or multiple solid-state switches disposed on the conductive bar. In some cases, one or multiple voltage suppressors may receive (e.g., suppress or ground) an electrical power of the electrical arcs when the solid-state switches are opened.

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: A device is provided for aligning a ribbon cable relative to an electrical connector to crimp the electrical connector onto the ribbon cable with a tool. The device includes a side portion and a central piece. The side portion includes an upper end and a cable track having a width sized to receive the ribbon cable. The central piece is coupled to the side portion and includes an upper surface. The upper surface of the central piece and the upper end of the side portion at least partially define a connector retaining segment sized to receive the electrical connector.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, are configured to cause a processor to perform operations that include receiving operational parameters for one or more automation devices, wherein the one or more automation devices are configured to implement control logic generated based on a decision tree. The operations also include receiving an output by the decision tree based on the operational parameters. Further, the operations include determining the output is an anomalous output based on a constraint associated with the decision tree. Further still, the operations include generating an updated decision tree based on the anomalous output. Even further, the operations include generating updated control logic for the one or more automation devices based on the updated decision tree. Even further, the operations include sending the updated control logic to the one or more automation devices.

Abstract: To facilitate the commissioning of network identifiers (network IDs), an ordered list comprising network ID's associated with devices of an industrial automation process may be generated and stored. Based at least on the ordered list, a network ID may be identified. A prompt may be generated and displayed, the prompt comprising a notification to power-off one or more devices. Another prompt may be generated and displayed, the prompt comprising a notification to power-on a single device of the industrial automation process. In response to receiving a network-identifier request from the single device, a device identifier may be identified for the single device and stored in a list. A response comprising the network ID and a command to change the assignment mode of the device is autonomously generated and transmitted to the single device, which subsequently stores the network ID changes its mode.

Abstract: Techniques for authenticating industrial devices in an industrial automation environment are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, a physical unclonable function response of an industrial device is extracted. The industrial device transmits a security certificate signed by a certificate authority that includes a device public key to a system, wherein the system validates the security certificate, encrypts an authentication challenge using the device public key, and transmits the authentication challenge to the industrial device. The industrial device generates a device private key using the physical unclonable function response and decrypts the authentication challenge using the device private key.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium may include computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to collect a portion of data associated with an asset from one or more sources based on a request received from a digital representation associated with the asset. The digital representation may perform a first set of simulations related to one or more operations of the asset over time. The processor may then generate a plurality of aligned datasets based the portion of the data, the one or more sources, and an identity of the asset. The processor may also aggregate the plurality of aligned datasets into a single dataset and transmit the single dataset to the digital representation to perform a second set of simulations based on the single dataset.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method may include receiving an indication of an available updated container. The method may also involve identifying one or more compute surfaces comprising a first container and a second container that correspond to the available container, such that the first container may control one or more operations of an operational technology (OT) device. The method may also include scheduling a deployment of the updated container to replace the second container, receiving expected output data associated with a digital model associated with the OT device, and scheduling a switchover of control of the one or more operations to the second container based on the expected output data.