A non-transitory computer-readable medium includes instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to receive a first dataset associated with a mover system having a track and a plurality of mover assemblies independently movable along the track, identify a subset of the first dataset associated with a normal operating state of the mover system based on state data associated with the mover system, receive a second dataset associated with the mover system after receiving the first dataset and having a first set of differences from the subset of the first dataset, determine whether the second dataset is indicative of an anomaly state of the mover system based on a relationship between an anomaly signature dataset and the second dataset, and adjusting operation of the mover system in response to determining that the second dataset corresponds to the anomaly signature dataset.

A method serves to operate a transport system, in particular a multi-carrier system, that comprises a plurality of linear motors that are arranged in a row and have a guide track, a plurality of transport elements that can be moved along the guide track by means of the linear motors, and a plurality of stations along the guide track, wherein each of the transport elements is associated with one of the stations. The method has the following steps: generating an instance for each of the transport elements, generating a list for each of the stations, wherein the instance for each of the transport elements associated with the respective station is associated with the list, and wherein, within the respective list, the instance of each transport element is linked to the instance of the transport element directly ahead of the observed transport element and to the instance of the transport element directly behind the observed transport element, transferring a transport element from a first station to a directly following second station and inserting the instance of this transport element into the list of the second station if a transport job that goes beyond the first station is present for the transport element, wherein the transfer of the instance takes place in an event-controlled manner and independently of a transfer point if a predetermined transfer condition is fulfilled, and controlling the linear motors to execute travel jobs of the transport elements.

Computer-implemented methods and systems for feeding workpieces to a manufacturing line are provided. An example method involves operating at least one processor to: receive, from at least one image device proximal to a bowl feeder, a sequence of images of workpieces within the bowl feeder; determine a flow velocity of the workpieces within the bowl feeder; generate bowl feeder control settings by applying the flow velocity to a predictive model; and automatically apply the bowl feeder control settings to the bowl feeder. Computer-implemented methods and systems for predicting anomalies in a manufacturing line are also provided. An example method involves operating at least one processor to: receive a sequence of images of workpieces in the manufacturing line; extract feature data from the sequence of images; apply the feature data to a predictive model to detect anomalies in the manufacturing line; and generate annotations to locate the anomalies within the images.

Computer-implemented methods and systems for feeding workpieces to a manufacturing line are provided. An example method involves operating at least one processor to: receive, from at least one image device proximal to a bowl feeder, a sequence of images of workpieces within the bowl feeder; determine a flow velocity of the workpieces within the bowl feeder; generate bowl feeder control settings by applying the flow velocity to a predictive model; and automatically apply the bowl feeder control settings to the bowl feeder. Computer-implemented methods and systems for predicting anomalies in a manufacturing line are also provided. An example method involves operating at least one processor to: receive a sequence of images of workpieces in the manufacturing line; extract feature data from the sequence of images; apply the feature data to a predictive model to detect anomalies in the manufacturing line; and generate annotations to locate the anomalies within the images.

Various embodiments described herein relate to controlling an accumulation conveyor that comprises at least a first zone that is upstream of a second zone and the second zone that is upstream of a third zone. A second control module associated with the second zone receives a third feedback signal, indicating that a third sensor is blocked, from a third control module associated with the third zone. The second control module sets a second drive assembly associated with the second zone to a disengaged state, and receives a first signal from a first control module associated with the first zone. The first signal indicates that one of a first article having an irregular boundary or a second article having a regular boundary exits from the first zone. The second control module controls the second drive assembly and a second brake assembly based on the indication by the first signal.

A control system and method obtain a stress profile of a device disposed onboard industrial equipment. The stress profile represents a stress characteristic of the device over time during operation of the industrial equipment. The system and method determine a smooth zero crossing function based on the stress profile. The smooth zero crossing function includes spikes that represent reversals of the stress characteristic. The system and method generate a control signal based on the smooth zero crossing function.

A system and method for dynamic nest and routing adjustment in an automation system. The method includes: operating the automation system; receiving operational data related to the automation system from a conveyor system and at least one automation station; analyzing the operational data to determine if adjustment of nest offsets or routing of parts is required; determining an adjusted nest offset or part routing; implementing the adjusted nest offset or part routing; and return to operating the automation system. The system includes: a controller to operate the automation system; an input for receiving the operational data; a machine learning (ML) module to analyze the operational data to determine if adjustment of nest offsets or routing of parts is required; a processor to determine an adjusted nest offset or part routing; and a configuration module to implement the adjusted nest offset or part routing.

Systems and methods to provide low carbon intensity (CI) ethanol through one or more targeted reductions of carbon emissions based upon an analysis of carbon emissions associated with a combination of various options for feedstock procurement, feedstock refining, processing, or transformation, and ethanol distribution pathways to end users. Such options are selected to maintain the total CI (carbon emissions per unit energy) of the ethanol below a pre-selected threshold that defines an upper limit of CI for the ethanol.

Autonomously operated systems and methods of packing unbound folded laundry articles are described. A system of stacking a plurality of folded laundry articles onto a receiving surface includes two or more side-by-side parallel extendable surfaces configured to extend at least one of independently and simultaneously, at least one sensor configured to detect a presence of one or more folded laundry articles on at least one of the surfaces, and a controller in operative communication with at least one drive of the two or more surfaces and the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to extend a loading end of at least one of the surfaces out upon receiving a signal from the at least one sensor, and retract the loading end to deposit the one or more folded laundry articles atop at least one of the receiving surface and one or more previously deposited folded laundry articles.

An example method for simultaneously manufacturing a plurality of objects is described. The method includes simultaneously cycling a plurality of pallets through a conveyor system. The conveyor system is cyclical, and the conveyor system includes an entrance point for each pallet, an exit point, and a plurality of manufacturing points corresponding to a plurality of manufacturing devices. Simultaneously cycling the plurality of pallets includes simultaneously cycling the plurality of pallets past the plurality of manufacturing points for two or more cycles, wherein each pallet is associated with a set of manufacturing instructions for a corresponding object. The method further includes, while simultaneously cycling the plurality of pallets through the conveyor system, using a different combination of the plurality of manufacturing devices to manufacture each object in accordance with the set of manufacturing instructions associated with each pallet, thereby manufacturing different objects for each pallet.