A method of process control within a plant includes providing a first and second field device associated with processing equipment sensing a first and second process parameter respectively. The field devices are communicably coupled to a host computer by a communications path including a shared field communications channel portion (shared communications channel) that terminates at a communications device which includes a processor and memory that implements an adaptive scan period determination algorithm (adaptive scanner) which determines a first scan period for the first field device and a second scan period for the second field device each based on a parameter relevant to a data type of the process parameter or communications used. The host computer monitors operations in the plant using sampled data provided by the communications device including data based on the first and second process parameter at their respective scan periods.

A robot system and method are provided that move an articulable arm relative to a target object. Perception information corresponding to a position of the arm relative to the target object is acquired. Movement of the arm is controlled based on the perception information. After movement of the arm, predicted position information representative of a predicted positioning of the arm is provided using the perception information and control signal information. The arm is subsequently controlled using the predicted position information.

An industrial control system is provided that includes a first control set, having a first frame period. The first control set includes at least one first input/output (I/O) pack; and at least one first controller. The industrial control system also has a second control set with a second frame period. The second control set includes at least one second input/output (I/O) pack; and at least one second controller. A mixed-frame rate logic device is also included with the industrial control system. This device may handle sharing of input data, output data, or both provided by the first control set to the second control set when the first and second frame periods are different.

A measuring device of process automation technology for measuring at least one process variable of a medium. A control unit is provided, which measures the process variable at least with a predeterminable clock rate and provides the result of such measurement as a measured value. Associated with the clock rate is an energy requirement of the measuring device, wherein a display/service unit is provided, which shows the measured value and/or enables servicing of, respectively parameter input to, the measuring device. The display/service unit of the control unit of the measuring device switches from a measuring mode into a service mode, wherein in the service mode the control unit measures the process variable with a first clock rate, wherein in the measuring mode the control unit measures with a second clock rate, and wherein the first clock rate and the second clock rate are fixed in such a manner that the second clock rate is greater than the first clock rate and the total energy requirements of the measuring device in the service mode and in the measuring mode are equal.

A robot system and method are provided that move an articulable arm relative to a target object. Perception information corresponding to a position of the arm relative to the target object is acquired at an acquisition rate. Movement of the arm is controlled at a control rate that is at least one of faster than or unsynchronized with the acquisition rate. Predicted position information representative of a predicted positioning of the arm is provided using the perception information. The arm is controlled using the perception information and the predicted position information.

A method of process control within a plant includes providing a first and second field device associated with processing equipment sensing a first and second process parameter respectively. The field devices are communicably coupled to a host computer by a communications path including a shared field communications channel portion (shared communications channel) that terminates at a communications device which includes a processor and memory that implements an adaptive scan period determination algorithm (adaptive scanner) which determines a first scan period for the first field device and a second scan period for the second field device each based on a parameter relevant to a data type of the process parameter or communications used. The host computer monitors operations in the plant using sampled data provided by the communications device including data based on the first and second process parameter at their respective scan periods.