Abstract: A multi-platform industrial search and notification system performs automated and manually initiate information searches across multiple disparate industrial data platforms. The search system is built on a search platform that unifies plant-wide control system information from multiple diverse sources under a common namespace, or federated data model. The system can monitor this federated data model for conditions that may warrant attention by plant personnel, and deliver proactive notifications and operational data to selected users via their personal devices. The system can customize presentation of this data based on the user's role, location, and/or other contextual information. To this end, the system can automatically generate user-specific and context-specific dashboards, widgets, or other visualizations, and render these custom visualizations to the user at appropriate times.

Abstract: The present invention provides a software and system to provide group control and network operations to/for a multiplicity of distributed energy storage units. In particular, the group control software and system connects multiple individual distributed energy storage units and operates those units in synchronicity to create a large virtual energy storage device. This group control system includes two methods of controlling the distributed energy storage units: through a browser-based online user portal, or though network-based, system-to-system protocols by third-party operation controllers.

Abstract: A method or system for controlling an energy or power supply network having a coordination centre, a plurality of local end-user units and a communications network linking the local units and the coordination centre and a supply network connecting the local units and the coordination centre for energy or power supply. The supply network has constraints that limits power or energy consumption at at least one of the local end-user units. The method or system is adapted so that the coordination centre transmits a control signal indicating a degree of imbalance of the system to the at least one of the local end-user units, and the at least one local end-user unit is adapted to transmit a reaction signal to the coordination centre indicative of a power schedule for the local unit.

Abstract: An optimization and management system using a global linearization approach and mixed integer linear programming to perform the dispatch and to schedule a river system for ten days forward while subject to real world, hourly physical, biological, environmental, and recreational constraints. The optimizer system uses a combination of slack variables and stitching methods to approximate a highly nonlinear optimization problem, thereby generating realtime generation schedules to promote to the management authority.

Abstract: A method for identifying an angle of roll for a multi-nozzle extruder includes moving the extruder in a first process direction to form a first set of swaths of extrusion material using two nozzles in the extruder and moving the extruder in a second process direction to form a second set of swaths of extrusion material. The method further includes identifying a location of one nozzle relative to the other nozzle in two dimensions based on cross-process direction distances between the first and second sets of swaths and identifying the angle of extruder roll for the extruder based on the location of the one nozzle and a predetermined geometry of the extruder.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to energy management in a building. In one aspect, a method includes providing a plurality of apparatus. Each apparatus of the plurality of apparatus includes a controller, a light, and a heating/cooling device. The controller is in communication with a control system, and the control system controls the electrical system of a building. A power price is received from the control system at a first apparatus of the plurality of apparatus. The power price is compared to a set point power price. Power supplied to at least one of the light of the first apparatus, the heating/cooling device of the first apparatus, a lighting device in a region proximate the first apparatus, and a heating/cooling device in the region proximate the first apparatus is adjusted based on comparing the power price to the set point power price.

Abstract: Provided is a numerical controller capable of shortening cycle time while maintaining machining accuracy of a rigid tap. The numerical controller includes: a rigid tap control unit that executes a rigid tap by synchronizing rotational speed of a spindle with feedrate; a synchronization error monitoring unit that starts or terminates monitoring of a synchronization error between the rotational speed of the spindle and the feedrate at a point R set to a height equal to or higher than a top of a workpiece; and a workpiece top detection unit that detects a position of the workpiece top. The synchronization error monitoring unit starts monitoring the synchronization error at the position of the workpiece top instead of the point R.

Abstract: A device operation setting apparatus includes a calculator and a determiner. The calculator calculates, based at least in part on a relationship between a setting value regarding operation control of a device and a consumed power of a device, a target value of the consumed power of the device. The determiner determines the setting value to cause that a difference between an actually measured consumed power of the device and the target value of the consumed power of the device calculated by the calculator is within a prescribed range.

Abstract: A control system for controlling a refrigeration system having an operating point, comprising: a memory configured to store a relationship of at least an evaporator efficiency, an evaporator heat load, a refrigerant amount in the evaporator, and a variable dependent on a non-volatile liquid mixed with refrigerant in the evaporator an input port configured to receive a signal corresponding to at least a measured evaporator heat load during operation; an output port configured to present an output to selectively alter an operating point of the evaporator, by altering the refrigerant amount in the evaporator and thereby changing the variable; and a processor, configured to receive the signal, access the memory; and generate the output to selectively move toward an optimum operating point. A corresponding method and refrigeration system are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of apparatus and methods for remote testing of controllers such as thermostats, to detect incorrect climate control system configuration parameters. In an exemplary embodiment, a computer wirelessly connects with a remote thermostat and sends signal(s) to the thermostat instructing the thermostat to perform climate control function(s) in predefined sequence(s). The computer receives signal(s) from the thermostat indicating whether the thermostat is performing the climate control function(s) in accordance with the sent signal(s). Based on the signal(s) received from the thermostat, the computer determines whether the thermostat is configured with accurate climate control system configuration parameters.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved method for supporting an object made by means of stereo lithography or any other rapid prototype production method. The generation of the support begins by determining the region that requires support in each layer of the object and defines a number of support points in this region. In a next step, a support mesh is generated connected to the object using these support points. The present invention also discloses different techniques that reduce superfluous edges to further optimize the support mesh. Finally, a support is generated from this support mesh. The present invention may facilitate the generation of supports data by employing more automation and less user analysis.

Abstract: This disclosure includes various systems and methods for determining an operating stage based on electrical conditions in electric power delivery systems and identifying a control strategy based upon the operating stage. The control strategy may be selected and customized to avoid or to ameliorate stresses in an electric power delivery system while maintaining the stability of electric power delivery systems. Various embodiments consistent with the present disclosure may include a distributed controller configured receive a plurality of indications of electrical conditions from a plurality of control devices in electrical communication with the electrical power delivery system. The distributed controller may determine an operating stage from among a plurality of operating stages based upon the plurality of indications of electrical conditions. The distributed controller may further identify a control strategy based upon the operating stage.

Abstract: A control system for a plant includes a controller and a sensor. The controller is configured to estimate a response time of the plant and adjust a sampling rate based on the estimated response time. The response time is a parameter that characterizes a response of the plant to a disturbance. The sensor is configured to receive the adjusted sampling rate from the controller, collect samples of a measured variable from the plant at the adjusted sampling rate, and provide the samples of the measured variable to the controller.

Abstract: A control system for a plant includes a controller configured to detect a disturbance in the control system. In response to detecting the disturbance, the controller is configured to evaluate a signal affected by the disturbance to estimate a response time of a plant. The response time is a parameter that characterizes a response of the plant to the disturbance. The controller is configured to adjust an operating parameter used by the control system based on the estimated response time. The controller is configured to use the adjusted operating parameter to generate and provide an input to the plant.

Abstract: This test device for a monitoring control device includes an input/output controller, a logic controller, a logic connector, a logic executing simulator, a test target indication unit, an apparatus characteristic receiver, a logic managing simulator, and a logic connection information generator. Using an apparatus characteristic obtained by the apparatus characteristic receiver, the logic managing simulator specifies a simulation logic appropriate for a control logic on the basis of a simulation logic management rule. The logic connector connects the control logic and the simulation logic, by using logic connection information generated on the basis of a logic connection rule.

Abstract: A cell control apparatus controls a plurality of manufacturing cells each including a manufacturing machine. The cell control apparatus comprises an operation extraction part configured to extract a transferable operation which can be performed by a manufacturing cell having operation time to spare among operations of a manufacturing cell having delay in operation. The cell control apparatus commands the manufacturing cell having delay in operation to stop at least a part of operations in the transferable operation and commands the manufacturing cell having the operation time to spare to perform the at least the part of the operations.

Abstract: A system and method for managing vehicle charging stations such that when at least two of a plurality of electric vehicle charging stations (also known as electric vehicle service equipment, or EVSE) occupied with vehicles awaiting a charge, the present system manages the charging of individual vehicles in cases where the aggregated demand for charging exceeds the capacity of the circuits supplying the plurality of EVSE. By cycling so that only a few of the vehicles are charging at a time, the demand on the circuits is kept below a predetermined limit. In cases where a load shedding event is in progress, the limit can be further reduced. In cases where the cost of electricity is varying dynamically, the system considers a driver's explicit charging requirements (if any) and preferences for opportunistic charging when the price of electricity is not too high.

Abstract: An example environment control system for a venue includes a controllable device arranged to perform at least one of heating, cooling or ventilation of the venue so as to affect the environment of the venue; a plurality of input devices disposed throughout the venue, each input device operable by a user to input environment feedback; and an environment controller arranged to control the at least one controllable device based on the environment feedback.

Abstract: A diagnostic system and method for a field device implemented in a safety instrumented system includes detecting an occurrence of a safety event associated with the field device, overriding normal control of the field device to cause the field device to enter a safe state in response to the detected occurrence of the safety event, verifying the override of normal control of the field device, and transmitting a control signal to cause the field device to enter the safe state.

Abstract: A method and system are provided. The method includes determining, by a processor-based capability determining element, different capabilities of each of different devices connected through one or more networks. The different capabilities include communication capabilities and manageability capabilities. The method further includes classifying, by the processor-based capability determining element, the different devices according to capability maturity rankings supported by the different capabilities to provide maturity-based capability classifications for the different devices. The capability maturity rankings are based on capability maturity criteria. The method also includes dynamically managing, by a controller, operations of the different devices in accordance with the maturity-based capability classifications.