Abstract: Current approaches to controlling robots from multiple vendors typically requires multiple software systems that define vendor-exclusive fleet manager or dispatch systems. Autonomous devices (e.g., robots, drones, vehicles) can be controlled from multiple vendors that use multiple locally sourced map. For example, maps from individual robots can be translated to a base map that can be used to command and control hybrid fleets of robots.

Abstract: Industrial automation systems are often inflexible, which can result in delays or downtimes that are costly and inconvenient. In particular, it is recognized herein that the engineering phase of automation system implementation currently represents a significant portion of the overall cost of an automation system. As described herein, automation system configurations can be automatically generated in accordance with various policies that can be implemented at runtime.

Abstract: Service interfaces and data topics can be discovered and retrieved so as to bridge different industrial automation ecosystems, programming languages, platforms, and the like, together. For example, nodes of one ecosystem can discover endpoints (e.g., interfaces and topics) across heterogeneous incompatible ecosystems, without changing the ecosystem. Further, endpoint descriptions are managed across heterogeneous incompatible ecosystems. Endpoint descriptions can be automatically generated based on interface and topic description in an interface description file. Such descriptions can also be automatically exported into registries of other ecosystems.

Abstract: A method for operating a numerical controlled machine comprising receiving a sequence of control commands which, when executed by a numerical controlled machine, cause the numerical controlled machine to machine a workpiece to obtain a predetermined workpiece geometry, wherein the sequence of control commands includes while machining the workpiece based on the received sequence of control commands measuring a value of a first interaction parameter for a first position of the tool, comparing a measured value of the first interaction parameter for the first position of the tool with the simulated value of the first interaction parameter for the first position of the tool, and determining an adapted value of the second interaction parameter for a following position of the tool based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: Current approaches to integrating industrial ecosystems, for instance integrating automation functions across different vendors, lack efficiencies and capabilities. For example, system integrators are often required to develop special software that functions as a proxy or adaptor between different systems. In such cases, the proxy or adaptor is often specific to a particular set of equipment or vendors, and which can limit reusability, among other technical drawbacks. Embodiments described herein overcome one or more of the described-herein shortcomings or technical problems by providing methods, systems, and apparatuses for automatically generating connecters that enable interoperability between different ecosystems in automated industrial systems, and that define semantics that are specific to a given ecosystem. Further, such connectors can be re-used by the given ecosystem.

Abstract: A plurality of sequentially consecutive sections of a linear drive are each controlled case by a respective control device that is assigned to a respective section of the plurality of sequentially consecutive sections, where converters that are controlled by the respective control device each individually apply current to a subsection of the respective section, and collectively to the respective section, control devices each specify new desired values to the converters they control, the respective control device controls each respective convertor of a plurality of converters, and where the control devices communicate, via respective peer-to-peer interfaces having real-time capability, with a number of other control devices that control sections.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described that can encode connection information between consumers and providers for displaying to users. In an example aspect, a distributed control system includes a production network configured to perform automated control operation. The production network can include one or more data extraction nodes and a plurality of devices in communication with the data extraction nodes. The data extraction nodes are configured to collect data from the plurality of devices. The data indicates connection information associated with the plurality of devices. The system can further include a screen configured to display a plurality of interfaces that include the plurality of devices represented as consumers and providers. In some cases, the screen defines a single desktop monitor or a mobile device display.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described that can encode connection information between consumers and providers for displaying to users. In an example aspect, a distributed control system includes a production network configured to perform automated control operation. The production network can include one or more data extraction nodes and a plurality of devices in communication with the data extraction nodes. The data extraction nodes are configured to collect data from the plurality of devices. The data indicates connection information associated with the plurality of devices. The system can further include a screen configured to display a plurality of interfaces that include the plurality of devices represented as consumers and providers. In some cases, the screen defines a single desktop monitor or a mobile device display.

Abstract: A method for open-loop and/or closed-loop control of a linear drive, a linear drive; and a system, wherein the linear drive includes at least one segment, at least one rotor, at least one machine station and a control device, where the at least one rotor is moved in a direction via the at least one segment, at least a portion of at least one segment is within a region accessible by the machine station, the movement of the at least one rotor is controlled in an open-loop and/or closed-loop manner by the control device and/or control unit, the controlling occurs in accordance with a movement pattern for the rotor, and where the movement of a particular rotor in the region accessible by the associated machine station is specified by a movement profile in accordance with the mode of operation of the associated machine station.

Abstract: A control device, linear drive, production- or packaging machine, computer program product and method for controlling movement of at least one rotor in the linear drive, wherein a user or a machine station specifies the movement pattern to the control device to specify the movement, where the specified movement pattern is associated with virtual axes, particularly via the computer program product, the movement pattern is advantageously automatically associated with virtual axes subsequently associated with real axes, a control unit, i.e., a converter, controls movement of the rotor on the segment of the linear drive and the control unit supplies at least one segment with electrical voltage or current, where the segments as part of the linear drive therefore move the rotors in accordance with the specifications of the movement pattern, where such an association occurs automatically, and the user is relieved of this task during specification of the movement pattern.

Abstract: A method for moving a rotor onto a segment, a linear drive, a production machine, a machine tool, and a packaging machine comprising such a linear drive, wherein the actual speed of the rotor is ascertained using a sensor paired with the segment when the rotor is moved onto the segment, where the actual speed is selected by a control unit as the first target speed for the rotor, and after the target speed has been determined for the rotor, the regulation of the actual speed is activated for the rotor, and where the actual speed of the rotor is then regulated in accordance with a conventional rule, wherein a rule variable is the ascertained actual speed and/or the position of the rotor such that jerking or an undesired acceleration is prevented during transition of the rotor onto the segment.

Abstract: A control device, linear drive, production- or packaging machine, computer program product and method for controlling movement of at least one rotor in the linear drive, wherein a user or a machine station specifies the movement pattern to the control device to specify the movement, where the specified movement pattern is associated with virtual axes, particularly via the computer program product, the movement pattern is advantageously automatically associated with virtual axes subsequently associated with real axes, a control unit, i.e., a converter, controls movement of the rotor on the segment of the linear drive and the control unit supplies at least one segment with electrical voltage or current, where the segments as part of the linear drive therefore move the rotors in accordance with the specifications of the movement pattern, where such an association occurs automatically, and the user is relieved of this task during specification of the movement pattern.

Abstract: A method for moving a rotor onto a segment, a linear drive, a production machine, a machine tool, and a packaging machine comprising such a linear drive, wherein the actual speed of the rotor is ascertained using a sensor paired with the segment when the rotor is moved onto the segment, where the actual speed is selected by a control unit as the first target speed for the rotor, and after the target speed has been determined for the rotor, the regulation of the actual speed is activated for the rotor, and where the actual speed of the rotor is then regulated in accordance with a conventional rule, wherein a rule variable is the ascertained actual speed and/or the position of the rotor such that jerking or an undesired acceleration is prevented during transition of the rotor onto the segment.

Abstract: A stator segment for a linear motor-based transport system is developed to the effect that a transmitter for cyclic transmission of a control data record in a first clock cycle also transmits, in addition to transmitting the control data record, a position value in a clock-synchronized manner, wherein a plurality of positions are available as a sequence with a quantity of elements and an element with an index corresponds to a position, where the transmitter unit is configured such that, upon every first clock cycle, the index is incremented commencing from a starting value and an element is transmitted after the control data record, where the transmitter unit is furthermore configured to transmit all elements in one transmission interval, and where the transmission interval corresponds to a multiple of the first clock cycle.

Abstract: A method for open-loop and/or closed-loop control of a linear drive, a linear drive; and a system, wherein the linear drive includes at least one segment, at least one rotor, at least one machine station and a control device, where the at least one rotor is moved in a direction via the at least one segment, at least a portion of at least one segment is within a region accessible by the machine station, the movement of the at least one rotor is controlled in an open-loop and/or closed-loop manner by the control device and/or control unit, the controlling occurs in accordance with a movement pattern for the rotor, and where the movement of a particular rotor in the region accessible by the associated machine station is specified by a movement profile in accordance with the mode of operation of the associated machine station.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining a position error in a linear drive, a linear drive, a method for operating the linear drive and an installation, wherein the deviation of a respective further runner in relation to a first runner (reference runner) is ascertained to determine the position error, where the discrepancy of the respective sensor is ascertained based on the deviation of the runner, the discrepancy may be ascertained using a reference system, the position error may be established based on the discrepancy of the respective sensor PS and the deviation of the respective runner, and where the position error may serve for the improved positioning, i.e., more precise positioning, of the respective runner on the linear drive or of the segments.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining a position error in a linear drive, a linear drive, a method for operating the linear drive and an installation, wherein the deviation of a respective further runner in relation to a first runner (reference runner) is ascertained to determine the position error, where the discrepancy of the respective sensor is ascertained based on the deviation of the runner, the discrepancy may be ascertained using a reference system, the position error may be established based on the discrepancy of the respective sensor PS and the deviation of the respective runner, and where the position error may serve for the improved positioning, i.e., more precise positioning, of the respective runner on the linear drive or of the segments.

Abstract: A stator segment for a linear motor-based transport system is developed to the effect that a transmitter for cyclic transmission of a control data record in a first clock cycle also transmits, in addition to transmitting the control data record, a position value in a clock-synchronized manner, wherein a plurality of positions are available as a sequence with a quantity of elements and an element with an index corresponds to a position, where the transmitter unit is configured such that, upon every first clock cycle, the index is incremented commencing from a starting value and an element is transmitted after the control data record, where the transmitter unit is furthermore configured to transmit all elements in one transmission interval, and where the transmission interval corresponds to a multiple of the first clock cycle.

Abstract: A control device, linear device, non-transitory computer readable medium and method by which optimal vibration damping can also be achieved in a simple manner when transferring a carrier from one segment to the next segment, where a primary part includes a plurality of sequentially consecutive segments that are each connected to a supply voltage via a respective converter, such that each of plurality of sequentially consecutive the segments receive respective currents of a three-phase system.

Abstract: A plurality of sequentially consecutive sections of a linear drive are each controlled case by a respective control device that is assigned to a respective section of the plurality of sequentially consecutive sections, where converters that are controlled by the respective control device each individually apply current to a subsection of the respective section, and collectively to the respective section, control devices each specify new desired values to the converters they control, the respective control device controls each respective convertor of a plurality of converters, and where the control devices communicate, via respective peer-to-peer interfaces having real-time capability, with a number of other control devices that control sections.