AN INDUSTRIAL MACHINE SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF CONTROLLING AN INDUSTRIAL MACHINE

Abstract

The invention relates to an industrial machine system comprising a machine (1) comprising an actuator system (2) for performing an industrial operation, and a remote computing system (6) comprising a machine controller (9). The machine controller is remote connected to the machine, and is configured to remote control the actuator system of the machine. The invention further relates to a method of controlling an industrial machine.

Claims

1. An industrial machine system, comprising: a machine comprising an actuator system for performing an industrial operation, the actuator system comprising at least one actuator configured to control a relative movement of a work piece and an operating device, and a remote computing system comprising a machine controller, wherein the machine controller is removed from the machine and remote connected to the machine, and wherein the machine controller is configured to remote control the at least one actuator of the actuator system of the machine via an actuator controller comprised in the machine.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the actuator controller is configured to communicate instructions for numerical execution by the actuator system.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the machine comprises a computing device for transmitting data and making decisions.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the actuator controller is a Numerical Control (NC) unit that controls the at least one actuator on a low level.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the actuator controller comprises a Programmable Logical Control (PLC) unit that controls the at least one actuator on a low level.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the actuator controller is a processor that exchange machining instructions with the at least one actuator.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the machine controller is remote connected to the machine via an internet connection.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the machine controller is hosted in a virtual machine in the remote computing system.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the machine controller is connected to a HMI (Human Machine Interface) unit.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the machine comprises a surveillance unit for monitoring operations by the machine, and wherein the surveillance unit is connected to the remote computing system and configured to provide operational information to the remote computing system.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the machine comprises a sensor system, and wherein the machine controller is remote connected to the sensor system to receive sensor data, and wherein the machine controller is configured to remote control the actuator system of the machine in response to the sensor data.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote computing system is configured to monitor an operational parameter of the machine, and disable the remote control of the actuator system of the machine by the machine controller when the operational parameter exceeds a threshold value.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote computing system is configured to collect data and use the data for data analysis and/or optimization and/or transfer the data to another system for data analysis and/or optimization.

14. A method of controlling an industrial machine comprising: providing a machine, comprising an actuator system for performing an industrial operation, which actuator system comprises at least one actuator configured to control a relative movement of a work piece and an operating device, establishing a communication link between the actuator system and a remote computing system comprising a machine controller removed from the machine, and remote controlling the at least one actuator of the actuator system of the machine by the machine controller over the communication link and via an actuator controller comprised in the machine.

15. Computer program product comprising computer program code, which when read and executed by a machine controller, enables a processor in a computer to perform the method according to claim 14.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0049] Various embodiments and examples related to the invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawing, where;

[0050] FIG. 1 shows an industrial machine system according to one embodiment.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows an industrial machine system according to another embodiment

[0052] FIG. 3 shows a method of controlling an industrial machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0053] In FIG. 1 an industrial machine system is shown. The system comprises a machine 1, such as a machine for laser cutting, welding, friction stir welding, ultrasonic welding, flame and plasma cutting, bending, spinning, hole-punching, pinning, gluing, fabric cutting, sewing, tape and fiber placement, routing, picking and placing, and sawing.

[0054] The machine comprises an actuator system 2 for performing an industrial operation. The actuator system comprises at least one actuator, i.e. a motor for linear or rotational movement. Typically the actuator system is configured for performing at least two-dimensional or three-dimensional movements of an operational part of the machine and a workpiece relative to each other.

[0055] The actuator system is controlled by an actuator controller 3 in the form of a CNC (Computerized Numerical Control), NC (Numerical Control) or PLC (Programmable Logical Control) unit. The actuator controller controls the actuator on a low level, i.e. by sending low level control commands for the actuation of the actuator system. The actuator system is connected to the actuator controller via a machine internal communication network 4, e.g. including a communication bus.

[0056] The machine optionally comprises other systems, such as a sensor system 10 for sensing various processing parameters of the machine and other controllers 11 for processors, networks, communication links or other computing devices for transmitting data and making decisions. These systems are also connected to the machine common internal communication network 4 and to the remote computing system such that the machine controller is remote connected to the sensor system to receive sensor data. The machine controller is further configured to remote control the actuator system of the machine in response to the sensor data.

[0057] The machine further comprises a communication client 5 connected to the actuator controller 3 for establishing communication with a remote computing system 6. The communication client is a functional unit which enables the machine or any sub component of the machine to communicate with the machine controller, and may be hardware and/or software implemented. The remote computing system may be a cloud based computing system connected to the internet. The communication client 5 and remote computing system may be configured to establish secure communication 7 with each other over the internet, e.g. by initiating encrypted communication by HTTPS/TSL or by establishing a VPN (Virtual Private Network). In one alternative the communication between the communication client and the remote computing system may be established over a firewall or a proxy server 8. As a further alternative, any sub component of the machine, such as the actuator controller 3, may be configured to connect to the remote computing system 6 in itself.

[0058] The remote computing system 6 comprises a machine controller 9, wherein the machine controller is remote connected to the machine, and wherein the machine controller is configured to remote control the actuator system of the machine via the actuator controller by modifying operational parameters of the actuator controller.

[0059] The machine controller 9 is hosted in a virtual machine in the remote computing system 6. In that way the machine controller resource may be exploited in an efficient way. The machine controller may e.g. be configured to read and execute machine program code, control machine parameters, allow manual control or adjustments of machine parameters, and function as an interface to associated systems. The machine controller is connected to a HMI (Human Machine Interface) unit 12 which may be remote connected to the machine controller via an internet connection 13 or included in the machine controller. Either way, an operator of the machine may supervise and control the operation of the machine from a remote location, e.g. connected to the internet. The HMI unit 12 and/or remote computing system 6 may be configured to require user identification of an operator, e.g. by requiring passwords or other identification means.

[0060] Below, a non-limiting embodiment of the inventive system as illustrated in FIG. 1 is described. Locally on the machine 1 an actuator system 2 comprising actuators for performing machining operations is included. An actuator controller 3 is part of or connected to the actuator system 2. The actuator controller is configured to receive instructions from the remote machine controller and execute instructions block by block in a closed loop system. Each task performed by an actuator is hence monitored and after a completed sub-operation the actuator, or another actuator will perform the next sub-operation until a whole operation is completed. This means that the operation of the actuators of the machine is controlled by the actuator controller on a low level. The actuator controller typically includes a memory and a processor in order to save and execute instructions and to log data. The actuator system does not involve a conventional machine controller or HMI. The actuator system of the machine is hence dependent on receiving instruction from the remote machine controller. Once a complete set of work instructions or a defined sub-set thereof have been received and verified it may however be executed without further instructions from the machine controller. A sub-set of work instructions may be a part of a complete machine operation, but at least involves enough information for the actuator system to perform a part of a complete operation. The operation is preferably performed step by step in a closed loop system within the machine. The machine is only furnished with simple functions such as an emergency stop button and an on/off button. Other than that the machine is dependent on commands from the remote machine controller to operate.

[0061] The machine controller is physically located remote from the machine, typically in the cloud. The monitoring of an ongoing process, loading of instructions, modification of instructions and creating new instruction may only be made at the remote machine controller. Hence, the inventive machine controller corresponds to a conventional machine controller, only it is not a physical part of the machine but remote connected to the machine. The instructions monitored and controlled by the machine controller and the interconnected HMI include operational parameters such as cutting velocity, cutting depth, pressure and so on. The machine controller is not part of the closed loop system of the actuator controller. Hence, unless new instructions are sent from the machine controller, the actuator system at the machine will conclude a fully received operation instruction without awaiting further instructions, unless specific instructions to conclude or alter the operation are received from the machine controller. Typically though, instructions are only provided for a full operation and new instruction will therefore only count for subsequent operations, not ongoing operations. This may be set as a safety arrangement but is up to the operator decide which type of operational security should be implemented.

[0062] The machine controller is configured to send instructions, instruction per instruction, or several instructions in a batch system. Any conventional manner of sending information may be utilized. Machine controller is further configured to receive information and make decisions based on said information. For example, the machine controller may act on feedback data and make decisions and/or send new instructions based on said feedback.

[0063] The inventive system provides for a possibility of remote controlling an industrial machine, without risking that commands are lost as a consequence of bad communication due to e.g. Internet latency. This is made sure e.g. because an operation is received and acknowledged in full at the actuator controller.

[0064] In order to facilitate surveillance, the machine comprises a surveillance unit 14, such as a camera, for monitoring operations by the machine. The surveillance unit is connected to the remote computing system 6 via the communication client 5 and configured to provide operational information to the remote computing system. The operational information is processed and transmitted to the HMI 12.

[0065] The machine controller is configured to receive a machine program from a CAD/CAM system or by manual entry from an operator, e.g. via the HMI unit 12.

[0066] In one embodiment the remote computing system is configured to monitor an operational parameter of the machine, and disable the remote control of the actuator system of the machine by the machine controller when the operational parameter exceeds a threshold value. Such an operational parameter may be the operating time, the number of operational cycles performed by the machine etc. Thus the operational costs and the use of the machine may be controlled and limited by limiting access to the machine controller.

[0067] The remote computing system is configured to collect machine and/or production data and transfer the data to another system (not shown) for data analysis and/or optimization. The machine data may be used to e.g. optimize the supply chain (purchase, manufacturing, distribution), the demand chain (marketing, sales, service), machine maintenance or for other big data applications.

In FIG. 2 a method of controlling an industrial machine is illustrated. The method comprises the steps of providing 301 a machine as disclosed herein, and comprising an actuator system for performing an industrial operation. A communication link between the actuator system and a remote computing system comprising a machine controller is established 302, and thereafter the actuator system of the machine is remote controlled 303 by the machine controller over the communication link.