Abstract: A drawer includes: a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis extending in an axial direction; and a frame to which a developing cartridge including a developing roller is attachable. The developing cartridge is attachable to the frame in a state where an outer circumferential surface of the developing roller faces an outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum. The frame is configured to move the developing roller in a separation direction in which the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller moves away from the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum. The frame includes a first guide roller for guiding the developing cartridge in the axial direction. The first guide roller is configured to move the developing cartridge in the separation direction relative to the frame in response to the movement in the axial direction of the developing cartridge relative to the frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment may include: an apparatus body; a first cover attached to the apparatus body to open and close a first opening of the apparatus body; a second cover attached to the apparatus body to open and close a second opening of the apparatus body; an image forming section in the apparatus body configured to form a latent image and including a first contact part; a second contact part provided to the apparatus body and opposed to the first contact part; a withdrawing mechanism that moves along with movement of the first cover to bring the second contact part into contact with and separated away from the first contact part; and a withdrawal holding mechanism that moves along with movement of the second cover and holds the separation of the second contact part from the first contact part.

Abstract: A transfer belt unit mountable to and demountable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, the transfer belt unit including: a transfer belt being in contact with a photosensitive drum of a drum cartridge of the image forming apparatus in a state where the transfer belt unit is mounted to the apparatus main body, the transfer belt being configured to transfer a toner image on the photosensitive drum to a sheet conveyed between the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt and to convey the sheet conveyed between the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt toward a fixing unit of the image forming apparatus in the state where the transfer belt unit is mounted to the apparatus main body, and a belt memory in which information about the transfer belt unit is stored.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a casing, a toner cartridge, and a process cartridge, is provided. The toner cartridge detachably attached to the casing stores toner therein. The process cartridge detachably attached to the casing includes a developing unit and a drum unit. The developing unit includes a developer roller and a toner conveyer tube. The toner conveyer tube has a first opening, through which the toner from the toner cartridge is acceptable into the toner conveyer tube while the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the casing. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum supporting the toner conveyer tube by contacting a circumferential surface of the toner conveyer tube. The developing unit is pivotable with respect to the drum unit with the toner conveyer tube and the drum unit being slidable on each other.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a shaft extending in a first direction; a first inclined surface; a second inclined surface; an elastic member; and a first protrusion. The shaft is movable in the first direction relative to the casing and the developing roller, and is movable in the second direction together with the same. The first inclined surface is positioned at one end portion of the shaft, while the second inclined surface is positioned at another end portion of the shaft. The first and second inclined surfaces are inclined relative to the first direction. The first protrusion is movable in the first direction together with the second inclined surface. The shaft is movable from a first position to a second position when the second inclined surface receives a pressing force directed in a direction from the another end portion to the one end portion.

Abstract: A process unit includes a drum frame supporting a photoconductor drum and a development frame supporting a development roller. The development cartridge is swingably supported by the drum frame at a coupling joint provided at a first side of the development frame and a support portion provided at a second side of the development frame. A center of rotation of the development roller is located in a position shifted from a line segment connecting a center of rotation of the coupling joint and a center of rotation of the photoconductor drum to an upstream side with respect to a direction of rotation of the coupling joint as viewed in an axial direction of the development roller, such that the development roller is pressed against the photoconductor drum by the action of the rotatory force received by the coupling joint.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device; a fixing device; a first conveyance passage downstream from the fixing device in a sheet conveyance direction; a second conveyance passage downstream from the fixing device and communicating with the first conveyance passage; a sheet reversing member to reverse a conveyance direction of the sheet to the second conveyance passage; a divider to switch a route of the sheet between the first conveyance passage and the second conveyance passage; and a sheet detection sensor disposed downstream from the fixing device and upstream from the divider. The first conveyance passage includes a sheet outlet from which the sheet is ejected outside the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a ventilation passage communicating with an outside, to guide air from the outside to pass the sheet detection sensor and enter at least one of the first conveyance passage and the second conveyance passage.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller, a cover to cover the developing roller from above the developing roller, a filter to cover a vent of the cover to filter air and collect toner passing through the vent, and a pressing member engaged with the cover in which the filter is installed. The cover includes a projecting support to support the filter. The pressing member holds the filter between the pressing member and the cover. The projecting support is projected from one end toward the other end of the vent in a transverse direction of the vent at a part of the cover in a longitudinal direction of the developing roller to block the vent, and cantilevered on the one end. A gap is provided between a tip of the projecting support and an inner edge of the cover on the other end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing hologram image data capable of optimizing image quality of a hologram image are provided. The image processing method includes receiving input image data, reading a header included at a predetermined location in the input image data, and generating hologram data configured to display a hologram image by performing a Fourier calculation and pixel encoding on the input image data based on at least one parameter recorded in the header, wherein the at least one parameter recorded in the header includes at least one of depth information, scale information, and gamma information.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a mechanical oscillator, formed by a balance and a piezoelectric balance spring, and a control device for controlling the frequency of the mechanical oscillator. This control device is arranged to be capable of generating time-separated control pulses, each including a momentary decrease in an electrical resistance applied by the control device between two electrodes of the piezoelectric balance spring relative to a nominal electrical resistance. The control device is arranged to be capable of applying a plurality of control pulses during each time of a series of distinct correction times or without interruption in a continuous time window, in order to respectively synchronize the mechanical oscillator at a correction frequency whose value depends on a detected positive or negative temporal drift or at a desired frequency for the mechanical oscillator.

Abstract: A timepiece is provided with a mechanical movement which includes a mechanical resonator, a sensor detecting oscillations of the mechanical resonator, and a braking device arranged to generate braking pulses in response to a control signal provided by a control circuit associated with an auxiliary oscillator. The control circuit is arranged to be capable of detecting a negative or positive temporal drift in the oscillation of the mechanical resonator and to generate, in a correction period, in association with the braking device, when the temporal drift corresponds to at least a certain loss, a series of braking pulses which are applied to the mechanical resonator at a frequency FSUP in a given range of values which is preferably higher than a frequency FZ (N)=2·F0c/N, F0c being a set point frequency for the mechanical resonator and N a positive integer number.

Abstract: In a timepiece, moments of inertia of a first pointer and a second pointer that are for displaying first information and second information, respectively and that have a same rotation axis are the same. As a result, parts having identical specifications may be used in a drive mechanism of the first pointer and a drive mechanism of the second pointer. Further, color schemes of the first pointer and second pointer differ. As a result, a user may easily distinguish the first pointer and the second pointer.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology provide a symbiotic graphical display on a client device such as a smartwatch. The system includes at least one emissive display element and at least one non-emissive display element. The display elements are arrayed in layers or other configurations such that content or other information is concurrently aligned across the respective display surfaces of the different elements. A first set of content is rendered using the non-emissive display element while a second set of content is rendered using the emissive display element. Depending on characteristics or features of a given content item, that item may be rendered by one or both of the display elements. Certain content may be transitioned from the emissive display element to the non-emissive display element according to a time threshold or other criteria.

Abstract: A rotation detecting apparatus includes a rotating member, detectors regarding a rotating direction of the rotating member, and a predetermined unit. Each detector detects whether a predetermined standard direction is included in detecting ranges different for each rotating member and outputs a result. The predetermined unit combines the detection result output from each detector and extracts an angle range. The predetermined unit specifies the rotating direction of the rotating member based on changes in the angle ranges extracted a plurality of times occurring in the plurality of times. The detecting range corresponding to each of the plurality of detectors is determined to be able to identify relative positions before and after a change from the angle range extracted by the predetermined unit to the angle range that is clockwise or counterclockwise apart a predetermined number or less to the angle range extracted, the predetermined number being two or more.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece prevents the internal time from shifting because time information for correcting the internal time cannot be received. The electronic timepiece includes: a timekeeper; a receiver; an operating device; an automatic reception controller; a time adjuster; and a reception setter configured to selectively set a first automatic reception prohibition mode that prohibits operation of the automatic reception controller and is cancelled by a single operation of the operating device, and a second automatic reception prohibition mode that prohibits operation of the automatic reception controller and is cancelled by a specific operation of the operating device that is different from the operation that cancels the first automatic reception prohibition mode.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a clock circuit, a signal receiver configured to receive signals including time information, a processor configured to control a changing operation of changing a current time measured by the clock circuit based on the time information obtained from the signal receiver and controls a presenting operation of whether or not the changing operation is successful. The processor controls the changing operation based on a first flag indicating whether or not the signal receiver successfully receives the time information. The processor controls the presenting operation based on a second flag indicating whether or not the changing operation is successful within a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An antenna device includes a parasitic antenna which is a metal member used as a windshield fixing frame of a wristwatch type electronic device, and a feed antenna which is a conductor. The parasitic antenna has an annular shape, and is disposed close to the feed antenna, and is electromagnetically or capacitively coupled with the feed antenna, and acts as a parasitic antenna to which power is fed from the feed antenna in a non-contact manner, and thereby the feed antenna and the parasitic antenna act in cooperation with each other as a circular polarized antenna for receiving radar waves which are circularly polarized waves having a predetermined wavelength.

Abstract: A method of optimizing the operation of a fleet of gas turbine engines is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) measuring respective values for plural control actuator settings within each of the gas turbine engines; (b) deriving, based on data external to the operation of the gas turbine engines, a desired performance modification of the gas turbine engines; (c) determining, based on the measured control actuator settings, one or more respective trim signals for varying selected of the control actuator settings to achieve the desired performance modification; and (d) transmitting the trim signals to respective electronic controllers of the engines to vary the selected control actuator settings accordingly.

Abstract: Described herein is a neural network-based vector control method for the induction motor. The disclosure includes an approach to implement optimal vector control for an induction motor by using an NN; a NN controller to substitute two decoupled proportional-integral (PI) controllers in current loop; and, a mechanism to train the NN controller by using a Levenberg-Marquardt (LM)+forward accumulation through time (FATT) algorithm.

Abstract: A system for generating actionable plant tasks from multiple operational data sources includes a computing device including an associated memory configured for receiving operational data associated with the plant from ?2 devices in the plant, where the operational data includes one or more alerts associated with problem(s) that have occurred at the plant. At least one numerical confidence value relating to a reliability is assigned to each operational data, at least one numerical importance value relating to importance is assigned to an operation of the plant to each operational data. The operational data is analyzed to determine correlations between different portions of the operational data, and based on the confidence values and the importance values at least one task associated with resolving the problem is determined, an action associated with the task is determined, and then an indication relating to the action is transmitted to another computing device.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a control system operable to gather physiological information about a patient supported on the patient support apparatus. The information may be gathered from sensors, a user interface, or a hospital information system. The control system also monitors operating parameters of the patient support apparatus and environmental conditions in the patient room. The control system utilizes the data gathered to identify a risk of an adverse event occurring to a patient supported on the patient support apparatus. The patient support apparatus is also operable to modify patient support apparatus parameters or environmental conditions to mitigate the risk of the adverse event.

Abstract: A system for analyzing operational data associated with a plant that has processing equipment configured and controlled to run a process involving at least one tangible material. Actual operational data corresponding to plant operations is received by a computing device that may relate to production, equipment, workforce, automation systems, safety, and/or cybersecurity of the plant. A model of the plant is generated based on the actual operational data, where the model indicates ideal plant operations including model operational data. The actual plant operational data and the model operational data are compared. Based on the operational data and the comparison of the operational data to model operational data, at least one recommendation for an action associated with the plant is determined.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle control device and a vehicle control simulation device that enable, even for parallel processing with a plurality of arithmetic devices, approximation in act between at verification of simulation operation on a model base and at verification of operation on an actual vehicle. Provided are: control model information for control of a system; hardware information for operation of a control model; arithmetic-device allocation information as to which arithmetic device in hardware is allocated to perform arithmetic processing to a control program in the control model; delay time information regarding a case where the control model operates on the hardware; and a delay-time adding unit configured to create delay-inclusive control model information in which the delay time information is inserted in the control model, based on at least either the arithmetic-device allocation information or the hardware information.

Abstract: A power-source monitoring apparatus according to an embodiment includes an abnormality detecting unit, a measurement unit, and a recording unit. The abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality in a power source. The power source supplies electric power to an autonomous driving apparatus of a vehicle. The measurement unit measures an elapsed time interval from a time point at which the abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality in the power source. The recording unit records therein the elapsed time interval measured by the measurement unit.

Abstract: Environmental characteristics of habitable environments (e.g., hotel or motel rooms, spas, resorts, cruise boat cabins, offices, hospitals and/or homes, apartments or residences) are controlled to eliminate, reduce or ameliorate adverse or harmful aspects and introduce, increase or enhance beneficial aspects in order to improve a “wellness” or sense of “wellbeing” provided via the environments. Control of intensity and wavelength distribution of passive and active Illumination addresses various issues, symptoms or syndromes, for instance to maintain a circadian rhythm or cycle, adjust for “jet lag” or season affective disorder, etc. Air quality and attributes are controlled. Scent(s) may be dispersed. Noise is reduced and sounds (e.g., masking, music, natural) may be provided. Environmental and biometric feedback is provided. Experimentation and machine learning are used to improve health outcomes and wellness standards.

Abstract: An engineering system (200) includes a cloud. The cloud includes an engineering tool (211) and a virtual device (212). The engineering tool (211) is configured to create and debug software for operating a control device (201) that controls a field device (205) installed in a plant. The virtual device (212) is configured to simulate an operation state of the control device (201) in accordance with the software and with simulated input or input to the control device (201). The engineering tool (211) debugs the software based on an operation result of the virtual device (212) and on output from the control device (201) or the simulated input.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods and devices for facilitating object-based cross-domain industrial automation control. An object library comprising a plurality of objects may be maintained. One or more of the objects may represent physical counterparts for use in an industrial automation process. Each object of the plurality of objects in the object library may have at least one property that an automated control device operation can be programmed to act on. Each object of the plurality of objects may also have at least one property that a human machine interface component can utilize in generating display elements corresponding to the objects for display on the human machine interface. When modifications to objects in the object library are received, those modifications may be automatically deployed and incorporated in controller logic and HMI graphics and control.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for configuring a plurality of field devices enables a user to perform both device parameter editing and marking device parameters for bulk transfer in a simple an easy manner. The system and method provide a single application or utility that enables a user to view and make configuration changes as well as to view and change bulk transfer status for individual field device parameters while providing the user contextual information regarding the field device components to which the field device parameters belong or relate. The system and method provide the user with typical or standard configuration screens that enable the user to perform configuration activities in a simple and well-known format, but that include contextual indications of the various field device components to which the displayed field device parameters relate.

Abstract: A tool monitoring method and a tool monitoring system are provided. The tool monitoring method includes extracting a first data and a second data of a tool of a machine tool, simulating and analyzing the first data to generate a comparison value, calculating the second data to obtain an actual value, and integrating and comparing the comparison value with the actual value to produce a comparison result for monitoring the operating condition of the tool.

Abstract: A method of sentencing, accepting or rejecting, a cast component is disclosed. Initially, scanning the component to determine a number of datum points; this can be done using optical scanning techniques. The datum points from the scanned results are then aligned with an ideal design computer aided design (CAD) model of the component. A comparison of the scanned datum points of the component is performed against the data from the ideal design CAD model of the component, and any geometric deviations between the scan and the ideal design CAD model are determined. Using the datum points from the scan of the component an assessment is performed of at least one performance prediction factor for the component. Finally, using dimensional data extracted from the scan and/or the performance prediction factor the component is sentenced for either acceptance or rejection.

Abstract: A three-dimensional data generating apparatus includes an input curve receiving unit configured to receive input of a curve indicating a relationship between a height and a distance from an outline of a target area to each position within the target area, a three-dimensional shape of the target area being generated from a two-dimensional image; and a three-dimensional data generating unit configured to calculate the height at each of the positions within the target area in accordance with the distance, the distance being calculated from a point on the outline to a corresponding position of the positions, and to generate data representing the three-dimensional shape of the target area based on the calculated height.

Abstract: A conformal seat insert for an adjustable vehicle seat, the conformal seat insert comprising an insert frame, the insert frame having one or more insert reference features for locating the insert frame on a seat frame of the vehicle seat in a predetermined position relative to the seat frame, and a contoured support surface formed in the insert frame, the contoured support surface having a crew reference point corresponding to an acromial point of a shoulder of a seat occupant of the adjustable vehicle seat, the crew reference point being a datum from which an eye position of the seat occupant is established relative to instrumentation of an aerospace vehicle in which the adjustable vehicle seat is located.

Abstract: To provide a control system of a machine tool that enables a changed parameter to be reflected to a machine side in an arbitrary timing according to a worker's intention. A control system of a machine tool automated by reflecting a parameter by computerized numerical control, includes a storage unit that, when the parameter is changed, stores the parameter thus changed as a changed parameter, a changed parameter reflection condition setting unit that sets a condition for reflecting the changed parameter, and a changed parameter reflection unit that, when the condition is detected, reflects the changed parameter not yet reflected.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods and devices for facilitating object-based industrial automation control. An automation control library comprised of a plurality of objects may be maintained in association with one or more industrial automation applications. Code defining the execution of an industrial automation process may be received. A plurality of objects in the object library for implementing the industrial automation control process may be identified. The plurality of identified objects may be matched to one or more hardware components based on one or more operational requirements included in the code, and available hardware resources for performing the automation control process.

Abstract: Provided is a production module for the execution of at least one production function upon or for a product, wherein the production function is configured for interaction with a further production function of a further production module in a production operation, and the production module is executable as a self-similar fractal module, having an execution unit for the autonomous execution of the at least one production function, having a processor unit for the delivery of a production service for accessing the at least one production function, a self-description service for the delivery and communication of self-descriptive information incorporating properties of the production function for the further production module, and for the reception of further self-descriptive information incorporating properties of the further production function, a coupling service for the determination of a cooperation zone.

Abstract: A numerical controller, which reciprocates a parent axis and a child axis according to a predetermined synchronization ratio by multi-axis synchronization control, is provided with a command decoding unit configured to decode a command including a plurality of command blocks, a distribution processing unit configured to generate a distribution movement amount, which is an amount of movement for each control period of a motor, based on the command blocks, an end-point correction unit configured to perform first correction processing for correcting the distribution movement amount so that a feedback position of the child axis reaches an end point, which is a turning point of the reciprocating motion, and second correction processing for recovering synchronization destroyed by the first correction processing, and a motor control unit configured to drivingly control the motor based on the corrected distribution movement amount.

Abstract: The servo controller is provided with a command reception unit and a servo control computation unit. In a measurement mode, the command reception unit asynchronously receives with every command reception period a counter output by the control device with every command update period. The servo controller is further provided with an event detection unit configured to detect the occurrence of an event which entails variation in reception intervals of the counter in the measurement mode, a deviation calculation unit configured to calculate a deviation amount between respective clocks of the control device and the servo controller, based on an occurrence period of the event and the command reception period, in the measurement mode, and a reception period adjustment unit configured to adjust the command reception period based on the deviation amount in an operation mode.

Abstract: Provided is a controller for controlling a gear cutting machine having a plurality of axes, the controller including an axis information storage unit configured to store data related to control of the plurality of axes during machining, and a disturbance component identification unit configured to identify a component of disturbance with respect to the plurality of axes using the data stored by the axis information storage unit and measurement results of machining accuracy of a workpiece machined by the cutting machine.

Abstract: Provided is a method for identifying a disturbance component, including: when a vibration frequency included in a position deviation or a synchronization error between a tool axis and a workpiece axis is defined as fd, and a sampling frequency of a sampling period, which is a time from when a tool cuts a single tooth trace on a workpiece until the tool again cuts the same tooth trace, is defined as Fs, determining a frequency Fa of undulation in a tooth trace direction from a formula: Fa=MIN|fd?N×Fs|, where N is a natural number, calculating a pitch of undulation in the tooth trace direction using the formula and a speed of the tool axis in a feed direction; and when the calculated pitch and a measured value of the pitch match, determining that fd is the disturbance component.

Abstract: A motion control system comprises a power module, a plurality of servo motors, a servo control module, a motion control module and a microprocessor; the power module controls the working power supply output by the alternating-current power supply; the plurality of servo motors converts current signal of the output current flowing to an encoder output signal; the servo control module converts the encoder output signal into a first logic control signal; the microprocessor converts the first logic control signal into a third control signal and controls the servo control module to adjust the power module, which changes the working power supply output by the alternating-current power supply so as to drive servo motors. The invention provides a motion control system which integrates motion controller and supports multi-axis alternating-current servo driver to realize automatic control of the servo driver and improve control precision of the servo driver.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing an additive manufacturing production line include an additive manufacturing machine having a first sensor and an auxiliary equipment having a second sensor. A server includes security protocols, a workflow module, an industrial Internet of things (IIoT) module and a machine learning module. The workflow module, IIoT module, machine learning module, additive manufacturing machine and auxiliary equipment are in communication with each other using the security protocols. The machine learning module processes feedback from the first sensor and the second sensor to control operation of the additive manufacturing machine through the workflow module and the IIoT module.

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 production line automatically allocating device includes a processor and a storage, wherein the processor is electrically connected to the storage. The storage stores a plurality of first fabrication process data, a plurality of machine function data and a plurality of machine status feedback data. The processor establishes a plurality of machine function group data according to the plurality of machine function data, determines first production line allocation data according to the plurality of machine function group data and the plurality of first fabrication process data, and updates the first production line allocation data according to the plurality of machine status feedback data in real time.

Abstract: A high availability industrial automation controller used in a high availability industrial automation system is disclosed. The controller includes instructions executable by a processor to receive information about a lost redundancy in the industrial automation system, change a first redundancy state and a second redundancy state associated with a first task and a second task, respectively, upon receiving the information, perform the first task and the second task. The performing the first/second task can include identifying the first/second redundancy state has been changed, modifying operation of the first/second task in response to the first/second redundancy state being changed, and resetting the first/second redundancy state. Also disclosed is a method of operating the industrial automation controller.

Abstract: A high availability industrial automation system in disclosed. The system has a primary industrial automation controller, a secondary industrial automation controller, and a communication network connected to the primary industrial automation controller and the secondary industrial automation controller. The primary industrial automation controller includes a processor and a memory configured to store a plurality of instructions, a plurality of automation tasks, input/output (I/O) data, and internal storage data. The processor is operative to execute the plurality of instructions to cross load information from the primary industrial automation controller to the secondary industrial automation controller. The cross loading of information can be less than the maximum amount of communicable information capable of being cross loaded. Also disclosed are methods of communicating over the high availability industrial automation system.

Abstract: A deterioration determining apparatus includes: an operating condition acquirer to acquire an operating condition of a processing device; a processing state data acquirer to acquire processing state data detected by a sensor attached to the processing device; a learning model generator to conduct machine learning using, as learning data, the operating condition and the processing state data so as to preliminarily generate a learning model concerning the operating condition and the processing state data; an actual data acquirer to acquire actual data that is the processing state data at a determining time; a predicted data acquirer to acquire, using the learning model, predicted data that is the processing state data for the operating condition at the determining time; and a determiner to determine the degree of deterioration in the processing device in accordance with the degree of divergence between the actual data and the predicted data.

Abstract: Detection of a breakdown sign in a first manufacturing machine forming a production system, prediction of a stop time when operation of the first manufacturing machine stops due to the breakdown, and specification of a maintenance time to return the first manufacturing machine to a normal state when the first manufacturing machine stops operating due to the breakdown. Achievement of a first total productivity planned by the planning unit when the sign of the breakdown is detected during the operation of the first and second manufacturing machines and the stop time of the first manufacturing machine is earlier than the maintenance time, at least the amount of operation of the first manufacturing machine is controlled to be equal to or greater than an amount of operation before the sign of the breakdown is detected, and a second total productivity higher than the first total productivity is set as a total productivity to the stop time.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods and devices for facilitating user communication for industrial automation system design. A first user's input for flagging an issue for review by a second user may be received in relation to a software object integrated in an industrial automation routine. A flag may be associated with the software object. A request to access the flagged issue may be received from the second user, and a location in the industrial automation routine corresponding to the flagged issue and the software object may be caused to be displayed on a computing device associated with the second user.

Abstract: Automation and network components of an industrial automation network are discovered and evaluated using a configured tool that can access the components and determine their interconnection and configuration. The equipment on the network may include automation and monitoring devices, such as controllers, drives, switchgear, and so forth, as well as network components such as servers, routers, industrial managed switches, and so forth. The configuration may be graphically mapped for an operator, and known issues or deficiencies in the detected configuration may be used to evaluate potential problems that can be addressed. The access and evaluation can be done during real-time operation of the system without perturbing its normal automation functions.

Abstract: An engineering system for planning an automation system and method for planning the automation system, wherein a cloud environment and/or an edge device are integrated into a project structure of a planning environment, where the project structure includes components and has at least one hardware component that has project elements, where the integrating includes saving and displaying the cloud environment or the edge device, in a manner structured as a component, accordance to a technological hierarchy, and wherein project elements associated with the cloud environment and/or with the edge device are defined, where at least one program block and a device configuration are stipulated for the cloud environment or the edge device, and where the hardware component and the cloud environment and/or the edge device are via the planning to perform an automation task of the automation system that must partially be performed in the cloud environment and/or edge device.