DISTRIBUTED CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20110172788A1
• Filed: 01/12/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comau LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Comau Incorporated (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Kilibarda, Velibor, Wang, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,818,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/9
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41815 characterised by the cooperation between machine tools, manipulators and conveyor or other workpiece supply system, workcell
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33273 DCS distributed, decentralised controlsystem, multiprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for controlling a plurality of machines. The method includes identifying a first prerequisite operating condition for a first machine in the plurality of machines, the first machine having at least one control unit and configured to perform at least a first operation, obtaining at least one current operating condition corresponding to a second machine in the plurality of machines and if the at least one current operating condition meets the first prerequisite operating condition, performing the first operation.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a plurality of machines, the method comprising:

identifying a first prerequisite operating condition for a first machine in the plurality of machines, the first machine having at least one control unit and configured to perform at least a first operation;

obtaining at least one current operating condition corresponding to a second machine in the plurality of machines; and

if the at least one current operating condition meets the first prerequisite operating condition, performing the first operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second machine has at least one control unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first machine has at least one device and performing the first operation comprises:

controlling the at least one device to perform the first operation.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one current operating condition of the first machine; and

sending the at least one current operating condition of the first machine to at least one of another machine, a visual display or a personal computer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first machine has at least one sensor and wherein determining the at least one current operating condition of the first machine comprises:

determining a sensor output of the at least one sensor; and

generating the first machine'"'"'s at least one current operating condition based on the sensor output.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein generating the at least one current operating condition comprises:

comparing the sensor output and at least one design performance characteristic of the first machine; and

using the comparison to determine the first machine'"'"'s at least one operating condition.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first machine is further configured to perform at least a second operation, further comprising:

identifying a second prerequisite operating condition for the first machine; and

if the second prerequisite operating condition is met, performing the second operation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first machine includes at least one sensor, further comprising:

generating the first machine'"'"'s at least one current operating condition using the at least one sensor of the first machine; and

determining if the second prerequisite operating condition is met based on the first machine'"'"'s at least one current operating condition.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining if the second prerequisite operating condition is met comprises:

determining if the second prerequisite operating condition is met by a the second machine'"'"'s at least one current operating condition.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

determining an actual result of the first operation;

determining a design result of the first operation using at least one design performance characteristic of the first machine;

determining a difference between the actual result and the design result; and

if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, generating a failure indicator.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating the failure indicator comprises:

determining a location of the first machine;

wherein the location of the first machine is included in the failure indicator.

12. A method of distributed control of a plurality of machines, each machine of the plurality of machines having at least one control unit, the method comprising:

identifying a first prerequisite operating condition for a first operation of a first machine having a first control unit;

identifying a second prerequisite operating condition for a second operation of a second machine having a second control unit;

obtaining at least a first and a second current operating condition from at least one other control unit;

performing the first operation if the first prerequisite operating condition is met by the at least one first current operating condition; and

performing the second operation if the second prerequisite operating condition is met by the at least one second current operating condition.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first machine has at least one device and performing the first operation comprises:

controlling the at least one device to perform the first operation.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining at least one current operating condition of the first machine; and

sending the at least one current operating condition of the first machine to at least one of another machine, a visual display or a personal computer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first machine has at least one sensor and wherein determining the at least one current operating condition of the first machine comprises:

determining a sensor output of the at least one sensor; and

generating the first machine'"'"'s at least one current operating condition based on the sensor output.

16. An apparatus in a first machine for controlling a plurality of machines, the first machine configured to perform at least a first operation, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to;

identify a first prerequisite operating condition for the first machine;

obtain at least one current operating condition corresponding to a second machine in the plurality of machines; and

generate a signal to perform the first operation if the at least one current operating condition meets the first prerequisite operating condition.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a location-sensing device configured to sense a location of the first machine.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

determine at least one current operating condition of the first machine; and

send the at least one current operating condition of the first machine to at least one of another machine, a visual display or a personal computer.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one sensor;

wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to;

determine a sensor output of the at least one sensor, and

generate the first machine'"'"'s at least one current operating condition based on the sensor output.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

compare the sensor output and at least one design performance characteristic of the first machine; and

use the comparison to determine the first machine'"'"'s at least one operating condition.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

identify a second prerequisite operating condition for the first machine; and

perform the second operation if the second prerequisite operating condition is met.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

at least one sensor; and

the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to;

determine a sensor output of the at least one sensor, and generate the first machine'"'"'s at least one current operating condition based on the sensor output, and

determine if the second prerequisite operating condition is met based on the first machine'"'"'s at least one current operating condition.