Automated industrial process testing via cross-domain object types

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12050458-B2
Application number	US-202218069055-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2022
Priority date	Sep 27, 2018
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 2024

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present technology comprise systems and methods for testing automated industrial process routines. In some examples, a software object that corresponds to a physical device in an automated industrial environment is integrated into a test routine comprising other software objects that correspond to other physical devices in the automated industrial environment. A test script of the software object is executed to test the compatibility between the software object and the other software objects in the test routine and the performance of the software object in the test routine. Test results are generated that comprise virtual measurements for the software object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, in response to execution, cause a system comprising a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
inserting a first software object of a plurality of software objects into a test routine comprising other software objects of the plurality of software objects, wherein the other software objects comprise a second software object in the test routine, wherein the first software object corresponds to a first physical device of a plurality of physical devices in an automated industrial environment and the other software objects correspond to other physical devices of the plurality of physical devices in the automated industrial environment, wherein each software object of the plurality of software objects comprises a testing layer, and wherein the testing layer of each software object comprises test scripts specific to the respective software object for testing aspects of the respective software object;
executing a first test script selected from the test scripts in the testing layer of the first software object in conjunction with a second test script selected from the test scripts of the testing layer of the second software object, wherein the first test script in conjunction with the second test script tests a compatibility between the first software object and the second software object in the test routine and a performance of the first software object in the test routine; and
generating test results that comprise virtual measurements for the first software object.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the first software object further comprises an automated control device layer and a human machine interface layer.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
executing a third test script selected from the test scripts in the testing layer of the first software object to test a simulated physical property of the first software object; and
generating second test results that comprise second virtual measurements for the first software object, wherein the second virtual measurements indicate compatibility, performance, and a measurement of the simulated physical property of the first software object.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
integrating a virtual industrial controller into the test routine, the virtual industrial controller having a controller test script; and
executing the first test script in conjunction with the controller test script, wherein the first test script in conjunction with the controller test script tests a compatibility between the first software object and the virtual industrial controller.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
retrieving the first software object from a software object library that comprises the plurality of software objects.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
displaying a navigation panel comprising the plurality of software objects; and wherein:
integrating the first software object into the test routine comprises receiving a user selection in the navigation panel for the first software object and responsively integrating the first software object into the test routine.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
receiving, via a user interface, at least one of a drag and drop operation, a click operation, or a touch operation; and wherein:
integrating the first software object into the test routine comprises integrating the first software object into the test routine in response to the at least one of the drag and drop operation, the click operation, or the touch operation.

8. A system for testing automated industrial process routines, the system comprising:
a memory that stores executable components; and
a processor, functionally coupled to the memory, that executes the executable components, the executable components comprising:
an industrial automation testing component that:
inserts a first software object of a plurality of software objects into a test routine comprising other software objects of the plurality of software objects, wherein the other software objects comprise a second software object in the test routine, wherein the first software object corresponds to a first physical device of a plurality of physical devices in an automated industrial environment and the other software objects correspond to other physical devices of the plurality of physical devices in the automated industrial environment, wherein each software object of the plurality of software objects comprises a testing layer, and wherein the testing layer of each software object comprises test scripts specific to the respective software object for testing aspects of the respective software object;
executes a first test script selected from the test scripts in the testing layer of the first software object in conjunction with a second test script selected from the test scripts of the testing layer of the second software object, wherein the first test script in conjunction with the second test script tests a compatibility between the first software object and the second software object in the test routine and a performance of the first software object in the test routine; and
generates test results that comprise virtual measurements for the first software object.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first software object further comprises an automated control device layer and a human machine interface layer.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the industrial automation testing component further:
executes a third test script selected from the test scripts in the testing layer of the first software object to test a simulated physical property of the first software object; and
generates second test results that comprise second virtual measurements for the first software object, wherein the second virtual measurements indicate compatibility, performance, and a measurement of the simulated physical property of the first software object.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the industrial automation testing component further:
integrates a virtual industrial controller into the test routine, the virtual industrial controller having a controller test script; and
executes the first test script in conjunction with the controller test script, wherein the first test script in conjunction with the controller test script tests a compatibility between the first software object and the virtual industrial controller.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the industrial automation testing component further:
retrieves the first software object from a software object library that comprises the plurality of software objects.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the industrial automation testing component further:
displays a navigation panel comprising the plurality of software objects;
receives, via a user interface, a user selection in the navigation panel for the first software object; and
responsively integrates the first software object into the test routine.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the industrial automation testing component further:
receives, via a user interface, at least one of a drag and drop operation, a click operation, or a touch operation; and
integrates the first software object into the test routine in response to the at least one of the drag and drop operation, the c

Assignees

• Rockwell Automation Tech Inc

Inventors

• Stump Andrew R
• Josipovic Srdjan
• Ericsson Matthew R
• Kalan Michael D
• Carrara Anthony
• Como Christopher W
• Billi-Duran Sharon M

Classifications

• G06F11/3698 Primary

  Environments for analysis, debugging or testing of software · CPC title

• G05B23/0272

  Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user · CPC title

• G05B19/054

  Input/output · CPC title

• G05B19/056

  Programming the PLC · CPC title

• G06F11/3684

  for test design, e.g. generating new test cases · CPC title