Abstract: A method of monitoring a track using train cars includes collecting first sensor data corresponding to a track location by a first sensor network on a first train car. Based on the first sensor data, a potential track anomaly at the track location is identified by a diagnostics system on the first train car. A message describing the anomaly is transmitted to diagnostics systems located on other train cars. The message is received by a second diagnostics system on a second train car located behind the first train car. The second diagnostics system determines a time at which the second train car will be passing over track location and, at the determined time, collects second sensor data. If the track anomaly is present in both the first sensor data and the second sensor data at the track location, a train control system is notified of the track anomaly.

Abstract: A system for autonomously providing functionality to a computerized control system includes a logic controller running a first computer application relating to an operations system and an application manager that receives requests for functionality from the first computer application. A remote marketplace client is in communication with the application manager and a remote marketplace that offers computer applications for providing a plurality of functionalities relating to the operations system. A computer application repository stores computer applications providing functionality of the operations system and responsive to receiving the request for functionality the application manager forwards the request to the remote marketplace client. The remote marketplace client queries the remote marketplace for the requested functionality and provides results of the query to the application manager.

Abstract: A system for using digital twins to interact with physical objects in an automation system includes a plurality of controller devices, a process image backbone, and a registry comprising a plurality of digital twins. Each respective controller device comprises a volatile computer-readable storage medium comprising a process image area. The process image backbone provides the controllers with uniform access to the process image area of each controller. Each digital twin in the registry corresponds to a physical device controllable via one of the controllers devices via a corresponding process image area.

Abstract: A control layer automation device comprises a processor, one or more control layer applications, a database, a wireless interface, a device memory. Each control layer application is configured to perform a discrete set of automation functions. The database comprises a plurality of operator device identifiers and the wireless interface allows the one or more control layer applications to communicate with a plurality of operator devices via the plurality of operator device identifiers. The device memory comprises the one or more control layer applications. The control layer application manager is configured to manage execution of the one or more control layer applications on the processor.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of identifying federations of manufacturing apps using House of Quality (HoQ) analysis includes receiving user request information comprising a plurality of desired functions and an importance value for each of the plurality of desired functions and generating a correlation matrix between the plurality of apps, wherein each element of the correlation matrix indicates a degree of correlation between a pair of apps. A relationship matrix is generated which comprises numerical values indicating relationships between a plurality of apps and the plurality of desired functions, wherein each column of relationship matrix is associated with an app and each row is associated with a desired function. Next, a weighted matrix is created by multiplying each row in the relationship matrix by the importance value corresponding to the desired function associated with the row.

Abstract: Systems (500) and methods (400) for an interactive system for automatic generation, analysis and exploration of composable system of systems based on knowledge graphs. A method (400) includes receiving (405) a scenario (110) and a domain ontology (111); determining (410) structures (132), attributes (133), and capabilities (131) from the domain ontology; generating (415) design alternatives (146) based on the scenario using the structures, attributes, and capabilities; performing (430) an evaluation (159) of the design alternatives based on the scenario; generating (445) an SoS design (300) based on the evaluation; and displaying the SoS design to a user.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a track using train cars includes collecting first sensor data corresponding to a track location by a first sensor network on a first train car. Based on the first sensor data, a potential track anomaly at the track location is identified by a diagnostics system on the first train car. A message describing the anomaly is transmitted to diagnostics systems located on other train cars. The message is received by a second diagnostics system on a second train car located behind the first train car. The second diagnostics system determines a time at which the second train car will be passing over track location and, at the determined time, collects second sensor data. If the track anomaly is present in both the first sensor data and the second sensor data at the track location, a train control system is notified of the track anomaly.

Abstract: A system for autonomously providing functionality to a computerized control system includes a logic controller running a first computer application relating to an operations system and an application manager that receives requests for functionality from the first computer application. A remote marketplace client is in communication with the application manager and a remote marketplace that offers computer applications for providing a plurality of functionalities relating to the operations system. A computer application repository stores computer applications providing functionality of the operations system and responsive to receiving the request for functionality the application manager forwards the request to the remote marketplace client. The remote marketplace client queries the remote marketplace for the requested functionality and provides results of the query to the application manager.

Abstract: Methods for automatic creation of workflows for design or simulation of a product to be manufactured and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes tracking a current workflow, by a data processing system, to produce current workflow data. The method includes converting the current workflow data into current workflow knowledge. The method includes predicting next actions for the current workflow, based on the current workflow knowledge and a contextual knowledge graph, to produce an automatically created workflow. The method includes implementing the automatically created workflow.

Abstract: An automation system comprises a local threat information server operating within automation plant and a plurality of field devices operating at a control layer of the automation plant. The local threat information server is configured to: receive threat information from one or more external sources, receive plant information from one or more internal sources, set a threat level according to one or more of the threat information and the plant information, and distribute an indication of the threat level to one or more control layer devices. Each respective field device is configured to: receive the indication of the threat level, identify one or more security operations corresponding to the threat level, and execute the one or more security operations.

Abstract: A system for providing access to locally stored process image data to other devices in an industrial production environment includes a plurality of controller devices and a process image backbone. Each respective controller device comprises the following: a volatile computer-readable storage medium comprising a process image area; a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium; a control program configured to provide operating instructions to a production unit; an input/output component configured to update the process image area during each scan cycle or upon the occurrence of one or more events with process image data items associated with the production unit; and a historian component configured to locally store the process image data items of the process image area as time series data in the non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. The process image backbone provides the plurality of controllers with uniform access to the process image data items of each programmable logic device.

Abstract: A system for using digital twins to interact with physical objects in an automation system includes a plurality of controller devices, a process image backbone, and a registry comprising a plurality of digital twins. Each respective controller device comprises a volatile computer-readable storage medium comprising a process image area. The process image backbone provides the controllers with uniform access to the process image area of each controller. Each digital twin in the registry corresponds to a physical device controllable via one of the controllers devices via a corresponding process image area.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of identifying federations of manufacturing apps using House of Quality (HoQ) analysis includes receiving user request information comprising a plurality of desired functions and an importance value for each of the plurality of desired functions and generating a correlation matrix between the plurality of apps, wherein each element of the correlation matrix indicates a degree of correlation between a pair of apps. A relationship matrix is generated which comprises numerical values indicating relationships between a plurality of apps and the plurality of desired functions, wherein each column of relationship matrix is associated with an app and each row is associated with a desired function. Next, a weighted matrix is created by multiplying each row in the relationship matrix by the importance value corresponding to the desired function associated with the row.

Abstract: A programmable logic controller comprises a processor, a PLC operating environment, a device memory, and an app container. The PLC operating environment is configured to execute a controller automation program providing a plurality of skill functions. The device memory comprises a plurality of apps which are configured to perform a discrete set of automation functions using the plurality of skill functions. The app container is logically separate from the PLC operating environment and configured to provide a runtime environment for the apps.

Abstract: Production tasks are scheduled to optimize production constraints while taking time varying energy prices into account. An energy management layer (EML) is in communication with a manufacturing domain as well as a smart grid domain. The EML receives information relating to a factory workflow, costs associated with operating units within the factory, and static utility information such as tariff models and incentives. Time variant energy price information is obtained from a utility regarding periodic price levels for a near future timeframe. The workflow is converted to a matrix representation that is acceptable to a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) solver. An algebraic factor representing a tradeoff between energy cost and full-capacity production is minimized to produce production variables which control production and limit production units and tasks to be performed during time slots that are most economically favorable.

Abstract: A method of executing apps on a production device in an automation environment includes storing a plurality of apps in a runtime environment of the production device. A metadata file is stored for each respective app included in the plurality of apps. The metadata file comprises an indication of a network interface that may be used for communication with the respective app by other apps, and an indication of one or more interface dependencies to other network interfaces corresponding to other apps. Prior to executing a particular app on the production device, an operation is performed to verify that each interface dependency associated with the particular app can be fulfilled by the plurality of apps.

Abstract: An automation system comprises a local threat information server operating within automation plant and a plurality of field devices operating at a control layer of the automation plant. The local threat information server is configured to: receive threat information from one or more external sources, receive plant information from one or more internal sources, set a threat level according to one or more of the threat information and the plant information, and distribute an indication of the threat level to one or more control layer devices. Each respective field device is configured to: receive the indication of the threat level, identify one or more security operations corresponding to the threat level, and execute the one or more security operations.

Abstract: A control layer automation device comprises a processor, one or more control layer applications, a database, a wireless interface, a device memory. Each control layer application is configured to perform a discrete set of automation functions. The database comprises a plurality of operator device identifiers and the wireless interface allows the one or more control layer applications to communicate with a plurality of operator devices via the plurality of operator device identifiers. The device memory comprises the one or more control layer applications. The control layer application manager is configured to manage execution of the one or more control layer applications on the processor.

Abstract: A method of executing apps on a production device in an automation environment includes storing a plurality of apps in a runtime environment of the production device. A metadata file is stored for each respective app included in the plurality of apps. The metadata file comprises an indication of a network interface that may be used for communication with the respective app by other apps, and an indication of one or more interface dependencies to other network interfaces corresponding to other apps. Prior to executing a particular app on the production device, an operation is performed to verify that each interface dependency associated with the particular app can be fulfilled by the plurality of apps.

Abstract: A programmable logic controller comprises a processor, a PLC operating environment, a device memory, and an app container. The PLC operating environment is configured to execute a controller automation program providing a plurality of skill functions. The device memory comprises a plurality of apps which are configured to perform a discrete set of automation functions using the plurality of skill functions. The app container is logically separate from the PLC operating environment and configured to provide a runtime environment for the apps.