A method for data communication between subscribers of an automation system includes a first passive subscriber and a second passive subscriber receiving a write request sent by an active subscriber, determining a first transmission time point for transmitting a first reply message by the first passive subscriber, transmitting the first reply message at the first transmission time, and receiving the first reply message. The method also includes determining a second transmission time for transmitting a second reply message by the second passive subscriber, transmitting the second reply message at the second transmission time, receiving the second reply message, and interpreting the first reply message and the second reply message as segments of a data packet.

Apparatus and methods for flexible input/output signaling over a same signaling channel are described. A programmable interface circuit includes a signaling channel that can be adapted, prior to use or during operation, for transmission and/or reception of different types of analog and digital signals. The interface circuit can be used for communications between an isolating communication controller and components of a machine that use diverse signaling types.

Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed herein for the integrated design and deployment of process control logic and power control logic in the context of industrial automation environments. In an implementation a computer displays, in an integrated design environment, representations of process control logic for controlling manufacturing devices an industrial automation process and of power control logic for controlling electrical devices in the industrial automation process. The computer further deploys the process control logic and the power control logic to a programmable logic controller (PLC) that controls the industrial automation process.

A modular modeling engine is provided for industrial automation applications. The module may be instantiated upon demand, such as upon receipt of annotated data for a system or process being monitored and/or controlled. The model is agnostic insomuch as little or no prior knowledge is required of the system or process. Variables, functions, and their combinations are selected and the model is refined automatically. A data structure is received for instantiation of the model, and following modeling, a similar data structure is produced. The module may be used together with other modules for caning out complex automation processing at the same or multiple levels in an automation setting.

The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods and devices for facilitating object-based cross-domain industrial automation control. An object library comprising a plurality of objects may be maintained. One or more of the objects may represent physical counterparts for use in an industrial automation process. Each object of the plurality of objects in the object library may have at least one property that an automated control device operation can be programmed to act on. Each object of the plurality of objects may also have at least one property that a human machine interface component can utilize in generating display elements corresponding to the objects for display on the human machine interface. When modifications to objects in the object library are received, those modifications may be automatically deployed and incorporated in controller logic and HMI graphics and control.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and device for providing service for a programmable logic controller (PLC), including: creating a virtual-functional-module-description file including an address of an input channel of a virtual functional module to be created; and creating the virtual functional module in a PLC based on the virtual-functional-module-description file, assigning the address to the input channel of the virtual functional module, and creating a virtual-functional-module-configuration file including a mapping relation between the input channel and an output of a service provider. The present disclosure proposes a concept of a virtual functional module which is used to map data provided by intelligent data sources outside the PLC to input channel of PLC so that the data can be the same as normal input values used by PLC program.

A method of operating an intelligent programmable logic controller over a plurality of scan cycles includes the intelligent programmable logic controller selecting one or more soft-sensors available in a control program corresponding to a production unit, each soft-sensor comprising a local parameter or variable used by the control program. The intelligent programmable logic controller determines updated soft-sensor values corresponding to the one or more soft-sensors during each scan cycle and stores those values during each scan cycle on a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium operably coupled to the intelligent programmable logic controller. Additionally, the intelligent programmable logic controller annotates the updated soft-sensor values with automation system context information to generate contextualized data.

Systems and methods for performing tensor contractions are provided. The system includes a processing system and a programmable logic in communication with the processing system via a controller. The processing system includes a processing unit and a memory for storing tensors. The programmable logic includes an input data arbitrator for routing a first input tensor and a second input tensor from the controller to a tensor contraction block; the tensor contraction block that includes a network of arrays of processing elements for performing matrix multiplication operations on the first and second input tensor; and an output data arbitrator for routing an output of the tensor contraction block to the processing system. The network of arrays of processing elements may include N arrays of processing elements, where N corresponds to the rank of the output tensor.

An automation device has a main module and an interchangeable connection module in which a fieldbus port of the automation device is located. The automation device is characterized in that the interchangeable connection module contains a non-volatile memory which can be read out by the main module of the automation device. A method for operating the automation device includes the steps of connecting a main module of the automation device with a connection module, reading the non-volatile memory of the connection module, detecting any incompatibilities between the main module and the connection module, and placing the automation device in operation if no incompatibilities are detected.

A control system for mounting to a vertically-extending rail. The control system includes a plurality of bases, each having a channel formed therein that is adapted for mounting to the rail. A plurality of modules are provided for removable mounting to the bases, respectively. Each module has circuitry for processing control signals and a housing enclosing the circuitry. At least a bottom end of each housing has openings therein to permit air to flow into the housing and over the circuitry. A plurality of air flow deflectors are provided for mounting to the bases, respectively. When the modules and the air flow deflectors are mounted to the bases, the air flow deflectors form pockets with the bottom ends of the modules. The pockets have enlarged openings disposed parallel to sides of the modules.