A method includes defining a plurality of variables to modify in a control loop; collecting first data using a first variable of the plurality of variables while executing the control loop, generating a first result based on the collecting first data step, substituting a second variable of the plurality of variables for the first variable, collecting second data using the second variable while executing the control loop, generating a second result based on the collecting second data step, comparing the first result and the second result; and taking an action based on the comparing step.

One aspect provides a modular infrastructure asset inspection robot, including: a plurality of modules for use in fluid conveyance infrastructure assets; each of the plurality of modules including at least one standardized electromechanical connection permitting a connection to be established with another of the plurality of modules; the plurality of modules being interchangeable and allowing reconfiguration of said modular infrastructure asset inspection robot to perform one or more of: two or more deployment methods for a first infrastructure asset type; and one deployment method for the first infrastructure asset type and a second infrastructure asset type. Other aspects are described and claimed.

A scenario providing device stores a scenario file, a customization file for stating a setting value of a variable used for executing a process constituting a scenario, and a menu for selecting the scenario. A menu providing unit of the scenario providing device causes a scenario execution terminal to display the menu and decides the scenario in accordance with an option selected in the scenario execution terminal from options included in the displayed menu. The scenario providing unit of the scenario providing device transmits the scenario file of the decided scenario and the customization file. A scenario execution unit of the scenario execution terminal substitutes, in the scenario indicated by the scenario file, the setting value of the variable stated in the customization file by a user and executes the scenario.

An intuitive customization system includes a server unit, a display device, an interface unit and a manufacturing station. The server unit is signally connected to an internet. The display device is signally connected to the server unit. The interface unit is displayed on the display device. The interface unit includes a working window frame, a first base image, a first part image and a first pattern menu. The first pattern menu comprises P first patterns. When a user selects one of the P first patterns of the first pattern menu, the first part image displays a first customized pattern, and the first customized pattern represents the one of the P first patterns. A first user design includes the first base image, the first part image and the first customized pattern. The manufacturing station manufactures a finished product according to the first user design.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an encoder that is easier to use. An encoder 1 used in a numerical control device includes a signal generation unit configured to generate a digital signal, and a configuration information output unit configured to output configuration information that determines operation of the signal generation unit, in which the configuration information output unit includes a voltage level acquisition unit that acquires a voltage level to be input, a configuration information selection unit that selects configuration information according to the acquired voltage level among a plurality of types of configuration information, and a configuration information transmission unit that transmits the selected configuration information to the signal generation unit.

A distributed control system (DCS) of an industrial process plant includes a data center storing a plant information model that includes a description of physical components, the control framework, and the control network of the plant using a modeling language. A set of exposed APIs provides DCS applications access to the model, and to an optional generic framework of the data center which stores basic structures and functions from which the DCS may automatically generate other structures and functions to populate the model and to automatically create various applications and routines utilized during run-time operations of the DCS and plant. Upon initialization, the DCS may automatically sense the I/O types of its interface ports, detect communicatively connected physical components within the plant, and automatically populate the plant information model accordingly. The DCS may optionally automatically generate related control routines and/or I/O data delivery mechanisms, HMI routines, and the like.

A method for configuring a new field device in an industrial plant includes detecting the new device, obtaining driver information including configuration parameters of the new device; determining the previously used field device, determining whether the driver information for the new device matches that for the previously used device. In case of a match, provisioning the new device with the previously used configuration parameters, and in case of no match, provisioning the new device with new configuration parameters.

A configuration data structure for control systems in an automation system and to a method, a cloud computing unit, a control system, and a computer program for generating the configuration data structure. The configuration data structure comprises a cloud component, which provides at least one cloud function that can be carried out on the cloud computing unit, and a system component, which provides at least one system function that can be carried out on the control systems.

A system, device, and method for managing connections in an industrial installation are described. The system includes one or more field devices, one or more automation devices, and a self-configurable device. The self-configurable device is adapted to dynamically configure, based on type of the one or more field devices and the one or more automation devices, such that the self-configurable device manages a connection between the one or more field devices and the one or more automation devices. The self-configurable device is adapted to calibrate one or more field devices and manage automation functions in the industrial installation.

The invention discloses a MIMO different-factor partial-form model-free control method. In view of the limitations of the existing MIMO partial-form model-free control method with the same-factor structure, namely, at time k, different control inputs in the control input vector can only use the same values of penalty factor and step-size factors, the invention proposes a MIMO partial-form model-free control method with the different-factor structure, namely, at time k, different control inputs in the control input vector can use different values of penalty factors and/or step-size factors, which can solve control problems of strongly nonlinear MIMO systems with different characteristics between control channels widely existing in complex plants. Compared with the existing control method, the inventive method has higher control accuracy, stronger stability and wider applicability.