A networking device and networking method for use in industrial automation applications. The networking device includes redundant circuitry that can allow the networking device to continue normal operation in the event of a failure that occurs with hardware of the networking device. The networking device includes both primary and secondary network switch circuits, and associated components. The networking device can be an advanced physical layer (APL) switch that interfaces with APL field devices.

The invention relates to a safety switch (2) with a redundant input structure and with a redundant output structure. The safety switch (2) is designed for integration into a series connection (1) of safety switches (2); the safety switch (2) has devices for detecting and adjusting the operating mode in the series connection (1). The safety switch (2) is designed for replacement in the series connection (1) during its operation.

The invention relates to an operator panel (1) having one or more applications (121, 122) for operating at least one production system (2). A configuration data memory (13) is set up to store configuration data that are provided for configuring the one or more applications (121, 122) of the operator panel (1). A synchronization module (14) is set up to access configuration data stored in the configuration data memory (13) and to synchronize these data via a communications interface (11) of the operator panel (1) with configuration data that are stored in a configuration data memory (13, 13) of a remotely disposed operator panel (1, 1). A configuration access module (15) is set up to receive from at least one application (121, 122) of the operator panel (1) a read request for stored configuration data, to access stored configuration data, and to read the stored configuration data corresponding to the read request and to deliver the read configuration data for configuring the at least one application (121, 122) to the at least one application (121, 122).

A method and apparatus for reconfiguring flight control of an aircraft during a failure while the aircraft is flying. The method and apparatus provide a control law that is software-implemented and configured to automatically send flight control data to a mixing/mapping matrix. The method and apparatus also provide a reconfiguration management tool configured to communicate with the mixing/mapping matrix in order to safely transfer authority from a failed actuator to a back-up actuator. The method and apparatus also provide a sensor management tool for providing input to the reconfiguration management tool in order to smooth any transient conditions that may occur during reconfiguration. The method and apparatus provide for a way of smoothing any possible transient situation that might otherwise occur by employment of a fader, the fader being used to gradually convert positioning of failed actuators and positioning of reconfigured actuators. An exemplary aircraft for using the method and apparatus of a reconfigurable flight control system is a quad tilt rotor. The quad tilt rotor provides a variety of redundant and back-actuators, as such, having a robust and highly qualified reconfigurable flight control system is very desirable.

A redundant automation system includes a first and a second identically configured subsystems, which each have a control program for controlling a technical process, wherein a synchronization connection is between the first and second subsystems, saved in the first subsystem in a source file is status information including static configuration data and dynamic runtime data, in order to enable uninterrupted updates of the second subsystem, a first data reconciliator is configured with a first independent program unit that is configured to incrementally read out write accesses of dynamic runtime data of the first subsystem to the source file to update the dynamic runtime data of the second subsystem and to transfer data contents of repeat write accesses to the second subsystem, and a second data reconciliator is configured with a second independent program unit configured to incrementally receive the repeat write accesses and subsequently storing them in a target file.

According to one embodiment, a system includes control apparatus and server. Control apparatus includes collector, transmitter, receiver and main controller. Collector collects sensing data concerning control targets in social infrastructure. Transmitter transmits collected sensing data to server. Receiver receives control instruction from server. Main controller controls control targets based on control instruction. Server includes acquisition unit, database, generator and instructor. Acquisition unit acquires sensing data from control apparatus. Database stores sensing data. Generator generates control instruction by processing sensing data. Instructor transmits generated control instruction to control apparatus.

A method and apparatus for reconfiguring flight control of an aircraft during a failure while the aircraft is flying. The method and apparatus provide a control law that is software-implemented and configured to automatically send flight control data to a mixing/mapping matrix. The method and apparatus also provide a reconfiguration management tool configured to communicate with the mixing/mapping matrix in order to safely transfer authority from a failed actuator to a back-up actuator. The method and apparatus also provide a sensor management tool for providing input to the reconfiguration management tool in order to smooth any transient conditions that may occur during reconfiguration. The method and apparatus provide for a way of smoothing any possible transient situation that might otherwise occur by employment of a fader, the fader being used to gradually convert positioning of failed actuators and positioning of reconfigured actuators. An exemplary aircraft for using the method and apparatus of a reconfigurable flight control system is a quad tilt rotor. The quad tilt rotor provides a variety of redundant and back-actuators, as such, having a robust and highly qualified reconfigurable flight control system is very desirable.

The invention relates to a safety switch (2) with a redundant input structure and with a redundant output structure. The safety switch (2) is designed for integration into a series connection (1) of safety switches (2); the safety switch (2) has devices for detecting and adjusting the operating mode in the series connection (1). The safety switch (2) is designed for replacement in the series connection (1) during its operation.

According to one embodiment, a system includes control apparatus and server. Control apparatus includes collector, transmitter, receiver and main controller. Collector collects sensing data concerning control targets in social infrastructure. Transmitter transmits collected sensing data to server. Receiver receives control instruction from server. Main controller controls control targets based on control instruction. Server includes acquisition unit, database, generator and instructor. Acquisition unit acquires sensing data from control apparatus. Database stores sensing data. Generator generates control instruction by processing sensing data. Instructor transmits generated control instruction to control apparatus.