MES APPLIANCE INTEGRATED WITH CONTROL MODULES

• US 20090088870A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Baier, John J., McGreevy, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/28
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31372 Mes manufacturing execution system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32334 Use of reinforcement learning, agent acts, receives reward

Abstract

Activities within various environments (e.g., industrial control environment) can be automated through a number of interchangeable modules configured to perform an action or series of actions. Each interchangeable module can be dedicated to a specific function or task (e.g., quality control, performance) and can take into consideration various business aspects. A sequence in which the actions should be performed can be assigned and the appropriate module automatically initiated based on the sequence. A user can manually select a module in order to have a particular function automatically implemented, such as inserting a quality control module into a rack so that functions relating to quality control are automatically implemented. When a different task is desired, the quality control module can be removed and replaced with a different module.

Claims

1. A system for autonomously performing activities in an industrial automation environment, comprising:

a selection component that receives a desired end result; and

a MES Appliance that determines one or more actions needed to achieve the desired end result and selectively invokes at least one interchangeable module to perform the one or more actions.

2. The system of claim 1, the MES Appliance initiates the at least one interchangeable module at a proper time to achieve the desired end result.

3. The system of claim 1, the MES Appliance dynamically configures the at least one interchangeable module to perform the one or more action.

4. The system of claim 1, the MES Appliance solicits feedback relating to the selected one or more actions, system performance, or recommended improvements.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an activity component that maintains information relating to the desired end result, or a structure of an input, or combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface component that accepts a user input that includes the desired end result.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sequencing engine that determines a sequence for performing the one or more actions.

8. The system of claim 7, the sequencing engine initiates a sub-portion of the at least one interchangeable module.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a construction component that configures the at least one interchangeable module to perform the one or more actions.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a presentation component that requests feedback relating to the desired end result.

11. The system of claim 1, the at least one interchangeable module is manually selected.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a machine learning component that facilitates automation of one or more system components.

13. A method for enabling automatic activities within an industrial control environment, comprising:

receiving a desired action;

evaluating the desired action to establish a workflow to achieve the desired action; and

selectively initiating one or more modules that perform at least one step included in the workflow.

14. The method of claim 13, selectively initiating one or more modules comprises sequentially invoking each of the modules based on the workflow.

15. The method of claim 13, evaluating the desired action to establish a workflow to achieve the desired action comprises monitoring parameters of the desired action.

16. The method of claim 13, receiving a desired action comprises receiving one or more modules through a user selection.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising requesting feedback information.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising reevaluating the desired action to establish a different workflow if the feedback indicates poor performance.

19. A machine execution system that facilitates implementation of one or more processes to achieve a stated result, comprising:

means for receiving an indication of a stated result;

means for creating a sequence of events to achieve the stated result;

means for selecting one or more interchangeable modules configured to implement and carry out at least one of the events in the sequence of events; and

means for initiating each of the one or more interchangeable modules in conformance with the created sequence of events.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for requesting feedback; and

means for selectively altering the sequence of events based in part on received feedback.