Some embodiments provide a system and method for interfacing with an irrigation controller based on rainfall, the system comprising: an interface unit including a housing and a control unit within the housing and configured to: cause an interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller, which is separate from the interface unit, based on signaling received from a rain sensor including hygroscopic material, when a sensed expansion of the hygroscopic material is above a set rainfall accumulation threshold parameter, the rain sensor being separate from the interface unit and the hygroscopic material being configured to expand in response to being contacted by the rainfall and to contract in response to an absence of the rainfall; and remove the interruption after a completion of a predetermined interval of time after a sensed contraction of the hygroscopic material indicative of a rainfall stop.

Some embodiments provide a system and method for interfacing with an irrigation controller based on rainfall, the system comprising: an interface unit including a housing and a control unit within the housing and configured to: cause an interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller, which is separate from the interface unit, based on signaling received from a rain sensor including hygroscopic material, when a sensed expansion of the hygroscopic material is above a set rainfall accumulation threshold parameter, the rain sensor being separate from the interface unit and the hygroscopic material being configured to expand in response to being contacted by the rainfall and to contract in response to an absence of the rainfall; and remove the interruption after a completion of a predetermined interval of time after a sensed contraction of the hygroscopic material indicative of a rainfall stop.

Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling a plant using extremum-seeking control. The method includes perturbing a setpoint for a controller by applying a dither signal to the setpoint. The controller uses a perturbed setpoint to generate one or more control inputs for the building equipment. Receiving, from the building equipment, an output signal and obtaining values of a performance variable based on the output signal, the values of the performance variable resulting from operating the building equipment based on the perturbed setpoint. The method includes determining a gradient of the performance variable with respect to the perturbed setpoint and a Hessian of the performance variable affected by the building equipment with respect to the setpoint. The method includes determining an adjustment to the setpoint predicted to drive the performance variable to an extremum based on the gradient and the Hessian of the performance variable.

Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling a plant using extremum-seeking control. The method includes perturbing a setpoint for a controller by applying a dither signal to the setpoint. The controller uses a perturbed setpoint to generate one or more control inputs for the building equipment. Receiving, from the building equipment, an output signal and obtaining values of a performance variable based on the output signal, the values of the performance variable resulting from operating the building equipment based on the perturbed setpoint. The method includes determining a gradient of the performance variable with respect to the perturbed setpoint and a Hessian of the performance variable affected by the building equipment with respect to the setpoint. The method includes determining an adjustment to the setpoint predicted to drive the performance variable to an extremum based on the gradient and the Hessian of the performance variable.

The present invention relates to a system for wireless monitoring of operating and production parameters of a machine for food production, particularly a clipping machine, having a sealed housing protected at least against moisture. The system comprises at least one measuring and control device for controlling the production process executed by the machine and measuring the operating and/or production parameters of the machine, the at least one measuring and control device being arranged inside the sealed housing, operating parameter determining means for determining operating parameters of the machine, wherein the operating parameter determining means are arranged in the machine and are connected to the at least one measuring and control device, production parameter determining means for determining production parameters of the machine, wherein the production parameter determining means are arranged in the machine and are connected to the at least one measuring and control device, at least one wireless communication device which is arranged inside the sealed housing and is connected with the at least one measuring and control device, a user interface and display device which is provided outside the sealed housing, the user interface and display device being connected to the at least one measuring and control device, and at least one smart device having at least an optical reading unit, wherein the at least one wireless communication device is configured to generate login details for wireless communication and encrypt the login details into a binary code which can be read by the optical reading unit of the smart device via the user interface and display device.

A method of adaptive anti-windup protection for a control system with cascaded inner control loop and an outer control loops. The method includes receiving an outer loop feedback signal indicative of the response of a plant controlled by the outer control loop and calculating an inner control loop request such that, it would cause saturation of the control device controlled by the inner control loop. The method also includes converting the calculated inner loop request to outer loop anti-windup request limits using kinematic relationships and transmitting the outer loop anti-windup request limits to a controller of the outer control loop. The method may also include applying the outer loop anti-windup request limits to a controller of the outer control loop to limit the inner loop request generated thereby, and executing an outer control loop control law and an inner control loop control law subject to the anti-windup request limits.

A method of adaptive anti-windup protection for a control system with cascaded inner control loop and an outer control loops. The method includes receiving an outer loop feedback signal indicative of the response of a plant controlled by the outer control loop and calculating an inner control loop request such that, it would cause saturation of the control device controlled by the inner control loop. The method also includes converting the calculated inner loop request to outer loop anti-windup request limits using kinematic relationships and transmitting the outer loop anti-windup request limits to a controller of the outer control loop. The method may also include applying the outer loop anti-windup request limits to a controller of the outer control loop to limit the inner loop request generated thereby, and executing an outer control loop control law and an inner control loop control law subject to the anti-windup request limits.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising: central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units, wherein the central control system comprises: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that cause the control circuit to: identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to cooperate with an available recharge station.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising: central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units, wherein the central control system comprises: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that cause the control circuit to: identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to cooperate with an available recharge station.

An integrated industrial system includes a safety instrumented system which is installed in a first zone, a host system which is connected to the safety instrumented system through a network, the host system being installed in a second zone which is different from the first zone, a detector which is installed in each of the first zone and the second zone, the detector being configured to detect a cyber-attack from outside to a self-zone, and a defender configured to perform a countermeasure of restricting a communication between the first zone and the second zone or of restricting a communication in the first zone or the second zone, based on a detection result of the detector.