Industrial technical plant controlled and monitored by a process control, wherein a visualization system requests a history of selected process datum for that display period from a process control system and outputs the associated profile as a graphic forming process data points, where the visualization system determines the particular process data point as the average or median of the values of the selected process datum in a collection period characteristic of the particular process data point and where, for the particular process data point, the visualization system also determines the minimum and/or the maximum values of the selected process datum during the collection period such that whenever the minimum is below a predefined minimum value and/or the maximum exceeds a predefined maximum value, the visualization system indicates, together with the particular process data point, a secondary alarm not set by the process control system, but set by the visualization system.

Systems and methods for controlling chlorinators for pools and spas are provided. A controller communicates with a processor positioned within a replaceable cell cartridge of a chlorinator, to allow for remote control and diagnosis of the chlorinator and/or cell cartridge. The cell cartridge stores, in non-volatile memory on board the cartridge, one or more parameters associated with the cartridge. The controller can obtain this information from the processor of the cell cartridge, and can use same to configure operation of the chlorinator. Information relating to remaining cell life can be updated by the controller and stored in the non-volatile memory of the cell cartridge. Electrical and software-based mechanisms are provided for ensuring operation of only compatible cell cartridges with the chlorinator. A system for remotely diagnosing errors associated with the chlorinator is also provided.

A method is disclosed comprising retrieving captured process data comprising video and/or audio data capturing at least part of the execution of events in a machine, retrieving at least a first signal representing a measurable machine condition responsive to the events executed, wherein a first sequence of said machine control instructions is configured to trigger a respective first set of said events for execution thereof, determining first time stamps of the machine control instructions, aligning the first time stamps with second time stamps determined for at least one of; i) times of execution of said first set of events determined from the captured process data; ii) the first signal and associated measurable machine condition retrieved in response to execution of said first set of events, displaying a representation of the first sequence of machine control instructions, associated with the first time stamps, together with an output representation said second time stamps.

Drones (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles, or “UAVs”) equipped with cameras and sensors may be configured to travel throughout the field environment of a process plant to monitor process plant conditions. Onboard computing devices associated with the drones control the movement of the drones through the field environment of the process plant. The onboard computing devices interface with the cameras and other sensors and communicate with user interface devices, controllers, servers and/or databases via a network. The onboard computing devices may receive drone commands from user interface devices and/or servers, or may access drone commands stored in one or more databases. The onboard computing devices may transmit data captured by the cameras and/or other sensors to UI devices, controllers, servers, etc. Accordingly, the user interface devices may display data (including live video feeds) captured by the drone cameras and/or drone sensors to an operator in a human machine interface application.

Systems and methods for controlling chlorinators for pools and spas are provided. A controller communicates with a processor positioned within a replaceable cell cartridge of a chlorinator, to allow for remote control and diagnosis of the chlorinator and/or cell cartridge. The cell cartridge stores, in non-volatile memory on board the cartridge, one or more parameters associated with the cartridge. The controller can obtain this information from the processor of the cell cartridge, and can use same to configure operation of the chlorinator. Information relating to remaining cell life can be updated by the controller and stored in the non-volatile memory of the cell cartridge. Electrical and software-based mechanisms are provided for ensuring operation of only compatible cell cartridges with the chlorinator. A system for remotely diagnosing errors associated with the chlorinator is also provided.

A method is disclosed comprising retrieving captured process data comprising video and/or audio data capturing at least part of the execution of events in a machine, retrieving at least a first signal representing a measurable machine condition responsive to the events executed, wherein a first sequence of said machine control instructions is configured to trigger a respective first set of said events for execution thereof, determining first time stamps of the machine control instructions, aligning the first time stamps with second time stamps determined for at least one of; i) times of execution of said first set of events determined from the captured process data; ii) the first signal and associated measurable machine condition retrieved in response to execution of said first set of events, displaying a representation of the first sequence of machine control instructions, associated with the first time stamps, together with an output representation said second time stamps.

Techniques to facilitate automatic importation and placement of display objects on human-machine interface (HMI) displays are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, a selection of a user-defined area is received that identifies at least a portion of a piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) associated with an industrial automation environment. The P&ID is analyzed to identify objects within the user-defined area of the P&ID and determine location data for the objects identified relative to the user-defined area. HMI objects are generated on an HMI display by mapping the objects identified within the user-defined area of the P&ID onto the HMI display based on the user-defined area of the P&ID and the location data for the objects identified relative to the user-defined area.

Systems, techniques, and computer-program products are provided for tracking and traceability of parts of a finished product. In some embodiments, the tracking and traceability generates streams of semantic data obtained from an imaging sensor system that records the execution of a manufacturing process in industrial equipment. The execution of the manufacturing process yields a finished product from initial materials and/or parts. The tracking and traceability also implements artificial reasoning about the execution of the manufacturing process to generate assertions that characterize the execution of the manufacturing process. Semantic data and assertions can be aggregated into a digital trace record that tracks a defined component of the finished product throughout the execution of the manufacturing process and permit tracing the component to a defined event within the manufacturing process.

Drones (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs) equipped with cameras and sensors may be configured to travel throughout the field environment of a process plant to monitor process plant conditions. Onboard computing devices associated with the drones control the movement of the drones through the field environment of the process plant. The onboard computing devices interface with the cameras and other sensors and communicate with user interface devices, controllers, servers and/or databases via a network. The onboard computing devices may receive drone commands from user interface devices and/or servers, or may access drone commands stored in one or more databases. The onboard computing devices may transmit data captured by the cameras and/or other sensors to UI devices, controllers, servers, etc. Accordingly, the user interface devices may display data (including live video feeds) captured by the drone cameras and/or drone sensors to an operator in a human machine interface application.