A method for configuring an interface device connected to a control device and a field device, wherein the method includes receiving a first machine learning application having a plurality of logical components connected in a pipeline, where the first machine learning application serves to analyze a signal from the field device utilizing a first machine learning model, generating a plurality of code blocks utilizing a translator based on the plurality of logical components of the first machine learning application, connecting the plurality of code blocks in accordance with the pipeline of the first machine learning application to generate a first output from the signal from the field device, and deploying the connected code blocks on firmware of the interface device including creating a virtual port connectable to the control device, and where the virtual port serves to transmits the first output to the control device.

A method is performed at a computer system of a manufacturing tool in a manufacturing facility. The method includes sending a series of frames showing data for the manufacturing tool to a client device for display. The client device is remote from the manufacturing facility. The method further includes receiving, from the client device, an indication of a user interaction with the client device and, in response to the indication, adjusting a bandwidth for one or more frames of the series of frames. Sending the series of frames includes, after receiving the indication, transmitting the one or more frames to the client device for display. The one or more frames are transmitted with the adjusted bandwidth.

The invention relates to a communication system for automation and process engineering, having a controller (2) as a data receiver and a sensor (3) as a data source, which use a communication line to exchange digital data as voltage signals based on the IO-Link standard. In order to allow the user to be able to access the data of a sensor that is in the communication system in a simple manner, the communication line is divided into two line sections, and a Y selector switch unit (10) is used at the junction, wherein the Y selector switch unit (10) is provided with a first connection (10a) on the sensor side and with a second and a third connection (10b, 10c) on the controller side, wherein the second connection (10b) has the controller (2) connected to it and the third connection (10c) has a further data receiver (4) connected to it, and wherein the Y selector switch unit (10) comprises a microcontroller (11) in which the sensor (3) is simulated by means of software so that the further data receiver (4) can query data of the sensor (3) without having to directly access or engage with the sensor (3) or the communication thereof with the controller (2).

A method and apparatus for managing a field device on a network can involve detecting, at a processing device, a connection of the field device in an industrial process control and automation system, receiving data, from the field device, including payload information related to the field device in the industrial process control and automation system, determining, at the processing device, whether the field device uses a specific protocol based on the data, and responsive to determining that the field device uses the specific protocol, generating, at the processing device, a soft modem instance. The method and apparatus can also involve termination of soft modem instance if the field device becomes disconnected. The method and apparatus can also involve demodulating and extracting, using the soft modem instance, the payload information from the data.

A system and method for facilitating communication between a control server and robotic devices are provided. An integration engine of the system identifies protocol schemes and message schemes that are supported by the control server and robotic devices. When the protocol schemes and message schemes of the control server and the robotic devices are same, the integration engine facilitates transmission and reception of instructions between the control server and the robotic devices through identified communication interfaces. When the protocol schemes and message schemes of the control server and the robotic devices are different, the integration engine translates the protocol schemes and message schemes that are received from one of the control server and the robotic devices to facilitate communication between the control server and the robotic devices through identified communication interfaces.

An apparatus is provided. The apparatus including a plurality of network interfaces, including a first network interface and a second network interface. The apparatus also includes a processor with two or more independent processing units, including a first independent processing unit and a second independent processing unit. The apparatus further includes a memory having first instructions and second instructions stored thereon. Execution of the first instructions, cause the first independent processing unit to execute operations associated with a first operating system and communicate, via the first network interface, over a bi-direction communication, with one or more platform computing devices. Execution of the second instructions, cause the second independent processing unit to execute real-time operations associated with a second operating system and communicate, via the second network interface, with one or more computing devices each having one or more sensors thereon.

To improve integrity of time synchronization, a node in the safety rated system takes steps to ensure the time to which it is synchronized has not become corrupted. The node receives a synchronize request message from an adjacent network device, which includes the master time, and the node generates an offset value corresponding to a difference between a local time and the master time. The node stores the offset time into a safety memory to ensure that the offset value has data integrity and does not become corrupted. The node performs periodic skew detection between two devices to verify that the clocks remain synchronized. In addition, the node performs a local drift detection to detect if the frequency of the local oscillator on which the local clock value is based begins to change.

A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.). The platform simultaneously supports simulation and run-time operations and interactions/intersections therebetween.

A machine control system includes: a machine configured to execute a motion according to a machine command; and one or more servers configured to control the machine. The one or more servers include control circuitry configured to: repeat an execution of a motion program to generate the machine command for the machine; add first cycle information designating a first use timing to the machine command; and transmit the machine command including the first cycle information to the machine via a communication network. The machine includes a machine circuitry configured to: repeat a local processing for controlling the machine according to a machine control cycle; receive the machine command from the one or more servers; store the received machine command; and call the stored machine command, based on the first cycle information added to the stored machine command, to use the machine command in the local processing corresponding to the first use timing.

A modular I/O system for an industrial automation network includes a network adapter including first and second adapter modules, wherein each adapter module is configured for connection with an industrial network. The I/O system further includes a first I/O device with first and second I/O modules each configured for operative connection to a controlled system for input/output of data with respect to the controlled system. The I/O system further includes first and second independent backplane data networks that connect each of the first and second adapter modules to each of the first and second I/O modules. The network adapter includes first and second removable backplane network switches and the first I/O device includes third and fourth removable backplane network switches that establish the backplane networks. The backplane network switches can be Ethernet gigabit switches.