A method for compensating for an error function is disclosed, wherein a field device has a sensor unit. The method includes transferring properties of the sensor unit to the field device. The properties contain information regarding process variables collected by the sensor unit. The method includes transferring the device status of the field device or the sensor unit to a plurality of field devices, and establishing a substitution system, wherein the properties of the sensor unit and the device status are known to the plurality of field devices, and the field devices independently determine which process variable of a sensor unit can substitute a process variable of another sensor unit with a predetermined degree of accuracy. The method also includes transferring the substitute variable to the higher-level unit in the event that at least one predetermined device status of a field device or a sensor unit arises.

A method for compensating for an error function is disclosed, wherein a field device has a sensor unit. The method includes transferring properties of the sensor unit to the field device. The properties contain information regarding process variables collected by the sensor unit. The method includes transferring the device status of the field device or the sensor unit to a plurality of field devices, and establishing a substitution system, wherein the properties of the sensor unit and the device status are known to the plurality of field devices, and the field devices independently determine which process variable of a sensor unit can substitute a process variable of another sensor unit with a predetermined degree of accuracy. The method also includes transferring the substitute variable to the higher-level unit in the event that at least one predetermined device status of a field device or a sensor unit arises.

Provided is a control device for performing model prediction control. A position of a virtual obstacle associated with a real obstacle is set based on a position of the real obstacle acquired by a first acquisition part so that the virtual obstacle is positioned substantially symmetrically to the real obstacle with reference to a following target trajectory of a control target. Stage costs calculated by a prescribed evaluation function include: a first stage cost associated with a first probability potential field representing a probability that the real obstacle is present based on the position of the real obstacle; and a second stage cost associated with a second probability potential field representing a probability that the virtual obstacle is present based on the position of the virtual obstacle and having a probability value equal to or greater than that of the first probability potential field.

In order to monitor the operational status of a plant, a plant monitoring apparatus 10 includes: a control program acquisition unit 11 configured to acquire a control program for controlling the plant on the basis of sensor data from a sensor installed in the plant; a causal relationship extraction unit 12 configured to extract, from the control program, causal relationships between a plurality of signals that are used in the plant; a causal relationship specification unit 13 configured to specify the current state of the plurality of signals and compare the specified state and the extracted causal relationships to specify a causal relationship corresponding to the specified state; and a display unit 14 configured to display the specified causal relationship on a screen.

A control system for operating a system having an operable component includes a master and a slave assigned to the component. The master and the slave each comprise a software processing part and a programmable logic part. The master is configured by its software processing part to: receive job data, transform the job data into component job data, and send the component job data to the slave. The master is configured by its programmable logic part to send information about a current job status to the slave. The slave is configured by its programmable logic part to receive the information about the current job status, and to send information about the current job status to its software processing part. The slave is configured by its software processing part to execute a job corresponding to the component job data using the current job status.

A control system for operating a system having an operable component includes a master and a slave assigned to the component. The master and the slave each comprise a software processing part and a programmable logic part. The master is configured by its software processing part to: receive job data, transform the job data into component job data, and send the component job data to the slave. The master is configured by its programmable logic part to send information about a current job status to the slave. The slave is configured by its programmable logic part to receive the information about the current job status, and to send information about the current job status to its software processing part. The slave is configured by its software processing part to execute a job corresponding to the component job data using the current job status.

A method of generating a product recipe for execution by a batch process in an automated manufacturing environment, such the product recipe is associated with a plurality of actions, a set of transitions, and a set of parameters, and such that the plurality of actions define a plurality of logical levels including a phase level at which the batch process interacts with equipment, includes receiving a procedure definition specifying the plurality of actions, receiving a transaction definition specifying the set of transitions so that each one in the set of transitions is associated with two or more of the plurality of actions, and receiving the set of parameters. Receiving the set of parameters includes receiving at least one dynamic input parameter that resolves to a value without obtaining the value from the product recipe or an operator prompt associated at the phase level of the product recipe.

A system and method of configuring monitor blocks and effect blocks associated with a process control system for a process plant includes causing a display device to display a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface indicating a first monitor block, a second monitor block, and an effect block. The system and method further includes enabling a user to input configuration data via the input device, including: (i) configuring one of the outputs of the first monitor block to serve as one of the inputs of the second monitor block, (ii) configuring an additional one of the outputs of the first monitor block and one of the outputs of the second monitor block to serve as inputs to the effect block, and (iii) designating at least one of the plurality of cells of each of the first monitor block, the second monitor block, and the effect block as a trigger associated with the respective input/output pair for the respective cell and corresponding to a condition in the process plant.

A system and method of configuring monitor blocks and effect blocks associated with a process control system for a process plant includes causing a display device to display a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface indicating a first monitor block, a second monitor block, and an effect block. The system and method further includes enabling a user to input configuration data via the input device, including: (i) configuring one of the outputs of the first monitor block to serve as one of the inputs of the second monitor block, (ii) configuring an additional one of the outputs of the first monitor block and one of the outputs of the second monitor block to serve as inputs to the effect block, and (iii) designating at least one of the plurality of cells of each of the first monitor block, the second monitor block, and the effect block as a trigger associated with the respective input/output pair for the respective cell and corresponding to a condition in the process plant.

A system for fault monitoring a wind turbine is provided. The system includes: (a) a first monitoring device adapted to provide a first monitoring signal, (b) a second monitoring device adapted to provide a second monitoring signal, (c) a third monitoring device adapted to provide a third monitoring signal, and (d) output logic adapted to generate a monitoring output signal indicating that a fault has occurred if at least two of the first monitoring signal, the second monitoring signal, and the third monitoring signal indicate that a fault has occurred. Furthermore, a wind turbine and a method of fault monitoring a wind turbine are described.