Abstract: The embodiments described herein include one embodiment that provides a control method that includes connecting a first controller to a control system; receiving control system configuration data from a database, in which the configuration data comprises holistic state data of a second controller in the control system; and configuring operation of the first controller based at least in part on the configuration data received.

Abstract: An analytics engine is provided for industrial automation applications. The engine may be modular, and may be instantiated upon receipt of a data structure, such as containing annotated data from or relating to a monitored and/or controlled machine or process. The module may be data-driven so that it is instantiated only as needed, upon receipt of the input data structure. The module then carries out analysis on the data, and outputs a data structure that can be used for further analysis, or directly by other modules for modeling, classification, optimization and/or control.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein include one embodiment that provides a control method that includes connecting a first controller to a control system; receiving control system configuration data from a database, in which the configuration data comprises holistic state data of a second controller in the control system; and configuring operation of the first controller based at least in part on the configuration data received.

Abstract: System and method for modeling a nonlinear process. A combined model for predictive optimization or control of a nonlinear process includes a nonlinear approximator, coupled to a parameterized dynamic or static model, operable to model the nonlinear process. The nonlinear approximator receives process inputs, and generates parameters for the parameterized dynamic model. The parameterized dynamic model receives the parameters and process inputs, and generates predicted process outputs based on the parameters and process inputs, where the predicted process outputs are useable to analyze and/or control the nonlinear process. The combined model may be trained in an integrated manner, e.g.

Abstract: System and method for improving operation of an industrial automation system, which includes a control system that controls operation of an industrial automation process. The control system includes a feature extraction block that determines extracted features by transforming process data determined during operation of an industrial automation process based at least in part on feature extraction parameters; a feature selection block that determines selected features by selecting a subset of the extracted features based at least in part on feature selection parameters, in which the selected features are expected to be representative of the operation of the industrial automation process; and a clustering block that determines a first expected operational state of the industrial automation system by mapping the selected features into a feature space based at least in part on feature selection parameters.

Abstract: An analytics engine is provided for industrial automation applications. The engine may be modular, and may be instantiated upon receipt of a data structure, such as containing annotated data from or relating to a monitored and/or controlled machine or process. The module may be data-driven so that it is instantiated only as needed, upon receipt of the input data structure. The module then carries out analysis on the data, and outputs a data structure that can be used for further analysis, or directly by other modules for modeling, classification, optimization and/or control.

Abstract: An industrial automation system may include an automation device and a control system. The control system may be communicatively coupled to the automation device and may include a first module that may receive a request for information regarding the automation device. The first module may then determine information related to the request for information based on one or more datasets locally available to the first module, alter the information based on a signal configured to obscure the information, and send encrypted information to a second module of the plurality of modules.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein include one embodiment that provides a control method that includes connecting a first controller to a control system; receiving control system configuration data from a database, in which the configuration data comprises holistic state data of a second controller in the control system; and configuring operation of the first controller based at least in part on the configuration data received.

Abstract: System and method for improving operation of an industrial automation system, which includes a control system that controls operation of an industrial automation process. The control system includes a feature extraction block that determines extracted features by transforming process data determined during operation of an industrial automation process based at least in part on feature extraction parameters; a feature selection block that determines selected features by selecting a subset of the extracted features based at least in part on feature selection parameters, in which the selected features are expected to be representative of the operation of the industrial automation process; and a clustering block that determines a first expected operational state of the industrial automation system by mapping the selected features into a feature space based at least in part on feature selection parameters.

Abstract: An industrial automation system may include an automation device and a control system communicatively coupled to the automation device. The control system may include a first module of a number of modules, such that the first module may receive an indication of a target variable associated with the industrial automation device. The first module may then receive parameters associated with the target variable, identify a portion of data points associated with controlling the target variable with respect to the parameters, generate a model of each data point of the portion over time with respect to the parameters based on the data points, determine functions associated with the model. The functions represent one or more relationships between the each data point of the portion with respect to controlling the target variable. The first module may then adjust one or more operations of the automation device based on the functions.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a control/optimization system includes an instantiated model object stored in memory on a model server. The model object includes a model of a plant or process being controlled. The model object comprises an interface that precludes the transmission of proprietary information via the interface. The control/optimization system also includes a decision engine software module stored in memory on a decision support server. The decision engine software module is configured to request information from the model object through a communication network via a communication protocol that precludes the transmission of proprietary information, and to receive the requested information from the model object through the communication network via the communication protocol.

Abstract: An industrial automation system may include an automation device and a control system communicatively coupled to the automation device. The control system may include a first module of a number of modules, such that the first module may receive an indication of a target variable associated with the industrial automation device. The first module may then receive parameters associated with the target variable, identify a portion of data points associated with controlling the target variable with respect to the parameters, generate a model of each data point of the portion over time with respect to the parameters based on the data points, determine functions associated with the model. The functions represent one or more relationships between the each data point of the portion with respect to controlling the target variable. The first module may then adjust one or more operations of the automation device based on the functions.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a control system includes a model-less controller configured to control operation of a plant or process. The control system also includes a model-based controller that includes a model of the plant or process being controlled by the model-less controller. The model-based controller is configured to modify parameters of the model-less controller.

Abstract: An industrial automation system may include an automation device and a control system communicatively coupled to the automation device. The control system may include a first module of a number of modules, such that the first module may receive an indication of a target variable associated with the industrial automation device. The first module may then receive parameters associated with the target variable, identify a portion of data points associated with controlling the target variable with respect to the parameters, generate a model of each data point of the portion over time with respect to the parameters based on the data points, determine functions associated with the model. The functions represent one or more relationships between the each data point of the portion with respect to controlling the target variable. The first module may then adjust one or more operations of the automation device based on the functions.

Abstract: An industrial automation system may include an automation device and a control system. The control system may be communicatively coupled to the automation device and may include a first module that may receive a request for information regarding the automation device. The first module may then determine information related to the request for information based on one or more datasets locally available to the first module, alter the information based on a signal configured to obscure the information, and send encrypted information to a second module of the plurality of modules.

Abstract: A method for operating an industrial automation system may involve receiving, via a first module of a plurality of modules in a control system, an indication that an error between a measurement associated with a target variable that corresponds with at least a portion of the industrial automation system and a modeled value for the target variable. The method may then involve determining, via the first module, whether the error is within a first range of values and retraining a model used to generate the modeled value for the target variable based on a portion of a plurality of sets of data points acquired via a plurality of sensors disposed in the industrial automation system in response to the error being within the first range of values.

Abstract: A method for operating an industrial automation system may include receiving, via a first module of a plurality of modules in a control system, a plurality of datasets via at least a portion of the plurality of modules. The plurality datasets may include raw values without context regarding the plurality datasets. The method may then include identifying a subset of the plurality of datasets that influences a value of a target variable by analyzing the data without regard to the context, modeling a behavior of the target variable over time based on the subset of the plurality of datasets, and adjusting one or more operations of an automation device based on the model.

Abstract: System and method for improving operation of an industrial automation system, which includes a control system that controls operation of an industrial automation process. The control system includes a feature extraction block that determines extracted features by transforming process data determined during operation of an industrial automation process based at least in part on feature extraction parameters; a feature selection block that determines selected features by selecting a subset of the extracted features based at least in part on feature selection parameters, in which the selected features are expected to be representative of the operation of the industrial automation process; and a clustering block that determines a first expected operational state of the industrial automation system by mapping the selected features into a feature space based at least in part on feature selection parameters.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a model predictive control system for an industrial process includes a processor to execute an optimization module to determine manipulated variables for the process over a control horizon based on simulations performed using an objective function with an optimized process model and to control the process using the manipulated variables, to execute model modules including mathematical representations of a response or parameters of the process. The implementation details of the model modules are hidden from and inaccessible to the optimization module. The processor executes unified access modules (UAM). A first UAM interfaces between a first subset of the model modules and the optimization module and adapts output of the first subset for the optimization module, and a second UAM interfaces between a second subset of the model modules and the first subset and adapts output of the second subset for the first subset.

Abstract: System and method for improving operation of an industrial automation system, which includes a control system that controls operation of an industrial automation process. The control system includes a feature extraction block that determines extracted features by transforming process data determined during operation of an industrial automation process based at least in part on feature extraction parameters; a feature selection block that determines selected features by selecting a subset of the extracted features based at least in part on feature selection parameters, in which the selected features are expected to be representative of the operation of the industrial automation process; and a clustering block that determines a first expected operational state of the industrial automation system by mapping the selected features into a feature space based at least in part on feature selection parameters.