The invention relates to a method for generating an executable simulation program and simulating control device communication (50) between a control device (10) to be tested and a further control device (20, 30, 40), the control device (10) to be tested having a description of its transmitting and receiving interfaces, and the method comprising the following steps: transferring the description of the transmitting and receiving interfaces to a database, identifying, by means of the database, the interfaces of the control device (10) to be tested from the description, generating a receiving interface element as a receiving interface of the one further control device for each identified transmitting interface of the control device to be tested, generating a transmitting interface element as a transmitting interface of the one further control device for each receiving interface of the control device to be tested, storing the generated interface elements (24, 26, 28, 34, 48) in the database, providing, by means of the database, a configuration for the simulation of control device communication (50), the configuration comprising the generated interface elements (24, 26, 28, 34, 48), generating an executable simulation program for control device communication (50) using the configuration.

The invention provides a cable abnormality assessment system, a slave device, and a cable abnormality assessment method. A cable abnormality assessment system is provided with a diagnosis control unit for assessing a cable abnormality on the basis of link-up information between a communication unit and another machine connected to the other end of a cable, and first and second information that are the respective results of abnormality diagnosis by a signal line diagnosis unit with regard to one and the other of two pair signal lines of the cable.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to generating a wiring schema with more than one safety device sharing at least one test signal through one or more external terminal blocks when the number of terminals required by safety devices exceeds the number of available terminals of a safety controller. In an illustrative example, the method may include determining a total number of terminals A of safety devices to be connected to a safety evaluation device having a number of terminals B. If A is greater than B, the method may then include generating a wiring schema that one or more external terminal blocks may show indicia of electrical connections between an identified set of safety devices and a shared terminal of the safety evaluation device associated with that set. By using the method, the number of devices that can be connected to the safety evaluation device may be expanded.

A safety-related device for use in vehicles, includes a microcomputer, a micro-electronic circuit, a first data bus interface, a second data bus interface, a safety unit (Safety-Agent), a PSI5 sensor link, and a sensor signal simulation unit which can simulate a sensor. The safety unit (Safety-Agent) is controlled via the first data interface by the microcomputer. The sensor signal simulation unit and the sensor interface and the switching between same via the second data interface is controlled via the microcomputer.

A surgical robotic testing unit for testing a surgical robotic system, the surgical robotic system comprising a first subsystem configured to generate a first signal having a first characteristic behaviour and a second subsystem configured to receive the first signal and to respond to the received first signal, the testing unit being configured to: emulate the first subsystem by: generating an emulated signal representative of the first signal of the first subsystem, the emulated signal having an emulated behaviour that exceeds a boundary of the first characteristic behaviour of the first signal, such that the testing unit is operable to test the second subsystem beyond the capability of the first subsystem; transmitting the generated emulated signal for receiving at the second subsystem; and receiving a response signal from the second subsystem indicative of the response of the second subsystem to the emulated signal; analyse the received response signal; and determine a state of the second subsystem based on the analysis.

A machine monitoring device is provided which includes (a) a communications link to interrogate a machine with a probe signal and receive one or more measured machine operating condition outputs; and (b) a device controller capable of (i) selecting a machine operating condition input variable for which a corresponding machine operating condition output is unknown; (ii) applying a predictive model in which the machine operating condition input variable serves as an argument of a predicted machine operating condition output; (iii) updating a library of predicted machine operating condition outputs; and (iv) alerting a human operator if a measured or predicted machine operating condition output exceeds a predetermined limit. The predictive model is based on at least two independent primary models having at least one correspondence between a primary model machine operating condition and a corresponding machine output. The primary models share a common basis in the predictive model.

A diagnostic system and method for a pressure regulator in a process plant is provided. The diagnostic apparatus includes a processor operatively coupled to the pressure regulator; a memory operatively coupled to the processor; and a sensor operatively coupled to an inlet valve of the pressure regulator, an exhaust valve of the pressure regulator, and the processor. A diagnostic module is stored in the memory, and when executed by the processor, presents a diagnostic tool at a user interface.

A system includes: a camera unit; a control unit; and a test setup for testing the control unit. The test setup comprises a processor and an image output unit. The processor is configured to manipulate image data to simulate an error of the camera unit and to output, on the image output unit, the manipulated image data in the form of an image detectable via camera optics. The camera unit is configured to detect, via the camera optics, the outputted image data simulating the error of the camera unit. The control unit is configured to receive, from the camera unit, camera image data simulating the error of the camera unit.

A method includes receiving information defining multiple functional configurations associated with an industrial process control and automation system. The functional configurations identify operations to be performed by the control and automation system. The method also includes receiving, at a test system integrated in the control and automation system, information defining multiple tests to be performed on the control and automation system. The method further includes executing the tests using the test system, where the test system accesses data from both the test system and the control and automation system.

A method of managing oilfield activity with a control system is provided having a plurality of virtual sensors and integrating the virtual sensors into a virtual sensor network. The method includes determining interdependencies among the virtual sensors, obtaining operational information from the virtual sensors, and providing virtual sensor output to the control system based on the determined interdependencies and the operational information.