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: 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: A modular modeling engine is provided for industrial automation applications. The module may be instantiated upon demand, such as upon receipt of annotated data for a system or process being monitored and/or controlled. The model is agnostic insomuch as little or no prior knowledge is required of the system or process. Variables, functions, and their combinations are selected and the model is refined automatically. A data structure is received for instantiation of the model, and following modeling, a similar data structure is produced. The module may be used together with other modules for caning out complex automation processing at the same or multiple levels in an automation setting.

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: Modular analytics engines are provided for industrial automation applications. The engines may be instantiated on a data-driven basis, such as by receipt of a data structure comprising annotated data relating to a machine or process to be monitored and/or controlled. The modules may comprise, for example, modules for modeling the machine or process, classification modules, optimization modules, and control modules. Output of the modules may comprise data structures, and these may be used as inputs to the same type or different types of modules. Multiple of the modules may be instantiated at the same level in the machine or process, or at different levels, such as in a department, institution, factory, or enterprise.

Abstract: A modular analysis engine provided classification of variables and data in an industrial automation environment. The module may be instantiated upon receipt of an input data structure, such as containing annotated data for any desired variables related to the machine or process monitored and/or controlled. The data may be provided in a batch or the engine may operate on streaming data. The output of the module may be a data structure that can be used by other modules, such as for modeling, optimization, and control. The classification may allow for insightful analysis, such as for textual classification of alarms provided in the automation setting.

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: One embodiment of the present disclosure describes an industrial system, which includes a control system that controls operation of an industrial process by instructing an automation component in the industrial system to implement a manipulated variable setpoint.

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: One embodiment of the present disclosure describes an industrial system, which includes a control system that controls operation of an industrial process by instructing an automation component in the industrial system to implement a manipulated variable setpoint.

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: The embodiments described herein include one embodiment that provides a control method including determining a linear approximation of a pre-determined non-linear model of a process to be controlled, determining a convex approximation of the nonlinear constraint set, determining an initial stabilizing feasible control trajectory for a plurality of sample periods of a control trajectory, executing an optimization-based control algorithm to improve the initial stabilizing feasible control trajectory for a plurality of sample periods of a control trajectory, and controlling the controlled process by application.

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: 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: 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: 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 an automation controller operatively connected for access to a model of the plant or process being controlled by the model-less controller. The automation controller is configured to modify parameters of the model-less controller via an explicit optimization procedure.

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: 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: 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.