Cloud-based analytics for industrial automation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11243505-B2
Application number	US-201514658345-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2015
Priority date	Mar 16, 2015
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

Abstract

A cloud-based analytics engine that analyzes data relating to an industrial automation system(s) to facilitate enhancing operation of the industrial automation system(s) is presented. The analytics engine can interface with the industrial automation system(s) via a cloud gateway(s) and can analyze industrial-related data obtained from the industrial automation system(s). The analytics engine can determine correlations between respective portions or aspects of the system(s), between a portion(s) or aspect(s) of the system(s) and extrinsic events or conditions, or between an employee(s) and the system(s). The analytics engine can determine and provide recommendations or instructions in connection with the industrial automation system(s) to enhance system performance based on the determined correlations. The analytics engine also can determine when there is a deviation or potential of deviation from desired system performance by an industrial asset or employee, and provide a notification, a recommendation, or an instruction to rectify or avoid the deviation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
collecting, by a system comprising a processor, a set of industrial data from a set of devices of an industrial automation system for storage in a data store, wherein the set of devices comprises an industrial device;
performing, by the system, analytics on the set of industrial data;
based at least in part on the analytics, determining, by the system, respective correlations between respective items of interest associated with the industrial automation system to facilitate improving operations or performance associated with the industrial automation system, wherein the respective correlations between the respective items of interest comprise a first item related correlation between a first item of interest and a second item of interest of the respective items of interest, wherein the first item related correlation is determined based at least in part on a result of the analytics, wherein the first item of interest relates to a variable of an industrial process of the industrial automation system and the second item of interest relates to a production output of the industrial automation system, and wherein the analytics comprise a first analytics and a second analytics;
generating, by the system, a first model that corresponds to and is representative of the industrial automation system, with regard to a first time period, based at least in part on the first item related correlation and the first analytics performed on a first subset of the set of industrial data, wherein the first model is utilized to perform a first simulation of first operation of the industrial automation system with regard to the first time period, wherein the first model, in part, is representative of the first item related correlation and the variable of the industrial process;
during the first time period, based at least in part on the first simulation of the first operation of the industrial automation system using the first model, the first item related correlation, and the first analytics, determining, by the system, a first formula for the variable of the industrial process that corresponds to a first level of influence the variable has on the production output of the industrial automation system, wherein the first formula is part of the industrial process and relates to a configuration of the industrial device associated with the industrial process, and wherein the configuration of the industrial device is based at least in part on the first formula;
with regard to a second time period, subsequently generating, by the system, a second model that corresponds to and is representative of the industrial automation system based at least in part on the first item related correlation and the second analytics performed on a second subset of the set of industrial data, wherein the second model is utilized to perform a second simulation of second operation of the industrial automation system, and wherein the second model, in part, is representative of the first item related correlation and the variable of the industrial process; and
during the second time period, based at least in part on the second simulation of the second operation of the industrial automation system using the second model, and the second analytics:
determining, by the system, the first level of influence of the variable on the production output has changed to a second level of influence, and
determining, by the system, a second formula for the variable that corresponds to the second level of influence the variable has on the production output to facilitate the improving of the operations or the performance of the industrial automation system, wherein the second formula is implemented as part of the industrial process and relates to a reconfiguration of the industrial device associated with the industrial process, and wherein the reconfiguration of the industrial device is based at least in part on the second formula.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the system, a change relating to the industrial automation system that is determined to result in improving the operations or the performance associated with the industrial automation system based at least in part on the respective correlations between the respective items of interest associated with the industrial automation system.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
generating, by the system, a recommendation message comprising a recommendation to implement the change relating to the industrial automation system to facilitate the improving of the operations or the performance associated with the industrial automation system; and
communicating, by the system, the recommendation message to a communication device associated with a user to facilitate implementation of the change.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
generating, by the system, an instruction message comprising a set of instructions to implement the change relating to the industrial automation system to facilitate the improving of the operations or the performance associated with the industrial automation system; and
communicating, by the system, the instruction message to the industrial device to facilitate implementation of the change.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the change relates to at least one of a first adjustment of a parameter associated with the industrial device, or a second adjustment of a configuration associated with the industrial device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the industrial device is a first industrial device, and wherein the first item of interest relates to the variable of the industrial process and associated with the first industrial device of the set of devices, and the second item of interest relates to a second industrial device of the set of devices, in connection with the production output of the industrial automation system.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first item of interest relates to the variable associated with at least one of the industrial device, a network-related device of the set of devices, the industrial process of the industrial automation system, a product production output for a product produced by the industrial automation system, a production goal associated with the product, a product cost associated with producing the product, a material or an ingredient that is used for producing the product, an interaction of an employee with the industrial automation system, or a defined period of time associated with the industrial automation system.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second item of interest relates to at least one of another industrial device of the set of devices, another network-related device of the set of devices, another industrial process of the industrial automation system, another production goal associated with the product, another material or another ingredient that is used for producing the product and stored in the facility or at a location other than the facility, another interaction of another employee with the industrial automation system, another defined period of time associated with the industrial automation system, a transportation cost relating to the product, an energy cost associated with the industrial automation system, a governmental policy, or a consumer demand for the product, in connection with the production output of the industrial automation system.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating, by the system, a visualized information display associated with a user and comprising information relating to at least one of a portion of the industrial data or one or more results of the analytics performed on the set of industrial data, wherein the visualized information displa

Assignees

• Rockwell Automation Tech Inc

Inventors

• Strohmenger John
• Korpela Jessica L
• Fordenwalt Matthew W
• Pingel Jan
• Hickox Stephen L
• Weber Douglas B

Classifications

• G05B15/02 Primary

  electric · CPC title

• G05B2219/32187

  Correlation between controlling parameters for influence on quality parameters · CPC title

• G05B2219/23026

  Recognise user input pattern and present possible intended program · CPC title

• Y02P90/80

  Management or planning · CPC title

• G06Q10/06

  Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling · CPC title