Embodiments of a software defined automation system that provides a reference architecture for designing, managing and maintaining a highly available, scalable and flexible automation system. In some embodiments, an SDA system can include a localized subsystem including a system controller node and multiple compute nodes. The multiple compute nodes can be communicatively coupled to the system controller node via a first communication network. The system controller node can manage the multiple compute nodes and virtualization of a control system on a compute node via the first communication network. The virtualized control system includes virtualized control system elements connected to a virtual network that is connected to a second communication network to enable the virtualized control system elements to control a physical control system element via the second communication network connected to the virtual network.

A device is configured to operate in an industrial automation environment. The device includes a processing unit, a memory, an industrial communication interface to communicate with an external device via an industrial communication protocol, and a serial peripheral interface to communicate with a peripheral board during operation of the device. The device is configured to receive configuration data related to an industrial automation function of the device via the serial peripheral interface and store the received configuration data in the memory, when the serial peripheral interface is coupled to an external memory device. When the serial peripheral interface is coupled to the peripheral board, the device is configured to operate to perform the industrial automation function, in accordance with the received configuration data.

The present invention provides a method for time synchronizing one or more devices in a control network using a first device. The method comprises selecting a first device from information of the topology of the control network. The method further comprises sending a first set of packets to the second device, receiving a first set of delay requests in response to the first set of packets, and sending a first set of delay responses in response to the first set of delay requests. The method further comprises, determining a first set of forward times and first set of backward times. The method further comprises, determining a first minimum forward time and a first minimum backward time. Further the method comprises determining a first correction factor. The method also comprises, applying the first correction factor to a clock provided at the second device and storing the first correction factor.

An automated system includes transducers, at least one computing device, and at least one automated apparatus. The transducer(s) is/are driven and sensed using drive-sense circuit(s). A drives and senses drive and sense a transducer via a single line, generates a digital signal representative of a sensed analog feature to which the transducer is exposed, and transmits the digital signal to the computing device. The computing device receives digital signals from at least some of drive-sense circuits and process them in accordance with the automation process to produce an automated process command. The automated apparatus executes a portion of an automated process based on the automated process command.

An industrial development hub (IDH) supports industrial development and testing capabilities that are offered as a cloud-based service. The IDH comprises an enhanced storage platform and associated design tools that serve as a repository on which customers can store control project code, device configurations, and other digital aspects of an industrial automation project. The IDH system can facilitate discovery and management of digital content associated with control systems, and can be used for system backup and restore, code conversion, and version management.

A software defined (SD) process control system (SDCS) implements controller and other process control-related business logic as logical abstractions (e.g., application layer services executing in containers, VMs, etc.) decoupled from hardware and software computing platform resources. An SD networking layer of the SDCS utilizes process control-specific operating system support services to manage the usage of the computing platform resources and the creation, deletion, modifications, and networking of application layer services with devices disposed in the field environment and with other services, responsive to the requirements and needs of the business logic and dynamically changing conditions of SDCS hardware and/or software assets during run-time of the process plant (such as performance, faults, addition/deletion of hardware and/or software assets, etc.). Thus, dynamic (re-)allocation of hardware/software resources is primarily, if not entirely, and continually governed in real-time by present requirements and needs of application layer services as well as dynamically changing SDCS conditions.

A software defined (SD) process control system (SDCS) implements controller and other process control-related business logic as logical abstractions (e.g., application layer services executing in containers, VMs, etc.) decoupled from hardware and software computing platform resources. An SD networking layer of the SDCS utilizes process control-specific operating system support services to manage the usage of the computing platform resources and the creation, deletion, modifications, and networking of application layer services with devices disposed in the field environment and with other services, responsive to the requirements and needs of the business logic and dynamically changing conditions of SDCS hardware and/or software assets during run-time of the process plant (such as performance, faults, addition/deletion of hardware and/or software assets, etc.). Thus, dynamic (re-)allocation of hardware/software resources is primarily, if not entirely, and continually governed in real-time by present requirements and needs of application layer services as well as dynamically changing SDCS conditions.

A system and a method for accessing at least one automation from an automation store are provided. The method comprises receiving a user input indicative of selection of at least one automation for accessing from a plurality of automations displayed in the automation store, and automatically uploading, in response to receiving the user input, the selected automation to a personal workspace of the user from the automation store. The automations are accessed via one or more Application Programming Interface (API) calls directed to an automation cloud server. Further, the method comprises generating a notification indicative of upload of the selected automation for accessing the automation. The uploaded automation is displayed in a software robot assistant associated with the user. Furthermore, the method comprises displaying the generated notification in an application interface associated with the automation store and displaying the selected automation in the personal workspace in the application interface.

An operator control unit for a field device used in automation technology includes a first operating system that includes an application program executable on the first operating system, and an emulation algorithm designed to execute, on the application program, application software executed on a second operating system. The application software has at least one communication protocol for coding/decoding telegrams transmitted to/from the field device and is designed to operate the field device, in particular to read, display and modify parameters of the field device, and/or to read and display measured values of the field device.

An intelligent furnishing system. The furnishing system includes an electronic device, a server, and a workstation. The workstation includes a short-range communication circuit, a user interface including a light source, and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to receive a reservation including a reservation start time, increase a communication range of the short-range communication circuit when the reservation start time is a predetermined period of time from a current time, and receive a proximity signal from the electronic device. The electronic processor is also configured to illuminate the light source in a first color, receive a check-in signal when the proximity signal is received, change the light source from the first color to a second color, receive a check-out signal when the check-in signal is received, and change the light source from the second color to a third color when the check-out signal is received.