A system includes a control device that coordinates within the system to control one or more operations of industrial automation equipment. The system also includes a terminal base that couples to the control device, wherein the terminal base includes a circuit. The system further includes a first input module and a second input module that couple to the terminal base. The first input module includes a first resistor and a first measuring device, and the second input module includes a second resistor and a second measuring device. The terminal base electrically couples the first resistor to the circuit and electrically isolates the second resistor from the circuit when the first input module and the second input module are coupled to the terminal block.

A monitoring system for monitoring a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building is provided. The monitoring system includes a monitoring server and a monitoring client. The monitoring server is configured to receive an aggregate current value from a monitoring device, wherein the aggregate current value represents a total current flowing through the HVAC system, determine a commanded operating mode of the HVAC system in response to the aggregate current value, wherein operating modes of the HVAC system include at least one of an idle mode and an ON mode, and analyze a system condition of the HVAC system based on the determined commanded operating mode. The monitoring client is configured to command the monitoring server to execute validation testing based on data received from monitoring the HVAC system, display results of validation testing, display real-time system performance data, and display an alert during a system malfunction.

A monitoring system for monitoring a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building is provided. The monitoring system includes a monitoring server and a monitoring client. The monitoring server is configured to receive an aggregate current value from a monitoring device, wherein the aggregate current value represents a total current flowing through the HVAC system, determine a commanded operating mode of the HVAC system in response to the aggregate current value, wherein operating modes of the HVAC system include at least one of an idle mode and an ON mode, and analyze a system condition of the HVAC system based on the determined commanded operating mode. The monitoring client is configured to command the monitoring server to execute validation testing based on data received from monitoring the HVAC system, display results of validation testing, display real-time system performance data, and display an alert during a system malfunction.

A method for operating a refrigerator appliance includes receiving a user inquiry signal at a controller of the refrigerator appliance in response to an inquiry input at a user interface of the refrigerator appliance, obtaining a status of at least one operable component of the refrigerator appliance with the controller of the refrigerator appliance, and sending the status of the at least one operable component of the refrigerator appliance from the controller of the refrigerator appliance to the user interface of the refrigerator appliance. A related refrigerator appliance is provided.

A method for operating a refrigerator appliance includes receiving a user inquiry signal at a controller of the refrigerator appliance in response to an inquiry input at a user interface of the refrigerator appliance, obtaining a status of at least one operable component of the refrigerator appliance with the controller of the refrigerator appliance, and sending the status of the at least one operable component of the refrigerator appliance from the controller of the refrigerator appliance to the user interface of the refrigerator appliance. A related refrigerator appliance is provided.

A safety control system has a control unit with safety control logic, a safety sensor arrangement, a machine arrangement operable in different operation modes, each operation mode having a different productivity, the control unit receiving and evaluating input from the safety sensor arrangement, and, in reaction to evaluation result(s), activating an operation mode determined by the safety control logic, the safety sensor arrangement having at least two functionally redundant subsystems, control unit input including information indicating availability of the functionally redundant subsystems, the control logic being configured to activate normal operation mode with normal productivity if input indicates availability of all subsystems, activate fail-stop operation mode with zero productivity if input indicates unavailability of all subsystems, activate fail-operate operation mode with productivity less than normal but above zero if input indicates at least temporary unavailability of at least one and availability of at least another one of the subsystems.

A safety control system has a control unit with safety control logic, a safety sensor arrangement, a machine arrangement operable in different operation modes, each operation mode having a different productivity, the control unit receiving and evaluating input from the safety sensor arrangement, and, in reaction to evaluation result(s), activating an operation mode determined by the safety control logic, the safety sensor arrangement having at least two functionally redundant subsystems, control unit input including information indicating availability of the functionally redundant subsystems, the control logic being configured to activate normal operation mode with normal productivity if input indicates availability of all subsystems, activate fail-stop operation mode with zero productivity if input indicates unavailability of all subsystems, activate fail-operate operation mode with productivity less than normal but above zero if input indicates at least temporary unavailability of at least one and availability of at least another one of the subsystems.

An office chair system has an office chair with adjustment elements for changing positions of elements of the office chair, a sensor element, a calculation unit coupled to the latter and to the adjustment elements, as well as an operating element coupled thereto. The adjustment elements are configured to detect contacts and actuations of components of the adjustment elements and to generate an adjustment signal based thereon. The sensor element is configured to determine the positions of the elements and a posture of a user and to generate a position signal based thereon. The calculation unit is configured to generate a first feedback signal based on the position signal, which contains information about a proposed change of the positions. One of the components is assigned to the proposed change. The calculation unit is configured to verify a contact or actuation of the assigned component and to generate a second feedback signal based thereon. The operating element is configured to output the first and second feedback signals.

An office chair system has an office chair with adjustment elements for changing positions of elements of the office chair, a sensor element, a calculation unit coupled to the latter and to the adjustment elements, as well as an operating element coupled thereto. The adjustment elements are configured to detect contacts and actuations of components of the adjustment elements and to generate an adjustment signal based thereon. The sensor element is configured to determine the positions of the elements and a posture of a user and to generate a position signal based thereon. The calculation unit is configured to generate a first feedback signal based on the position signal, which contains information about a proposed change of the positions. One of the components is assigned to the proposed change. The calculation unit is configured to verify a contact or actuation of the assigned component and to generate a second feedback signal based thereon. The operating element is configured to output the first and second feedback signals.

An autonomous moving machine system continuously maintaining moving machines thereof at higher reliability is provided. Each moving machine measures a self-location thereof with a sensor thereof, and autonomously moves to a target location by controlling a mover. Operations of the moving machine includes acquiring sensor information, estimating the self-location in accordance with the sensor information, calculating the reliability of the self-location, transmitting the reliability to the other moving machine. Operations of a particular moving machine further includes recording history information that associates the reliability, the self-location, and an identifier identifying each of the moving machines, selecting a moving machine to restore the reliability in accordance with the history information and moving the selected moving machine to a location where the reliability of the selected moving machine increases.