EXECUTION OF REAL TIME APPLICATIONS WITH AN AUTOMATION CONTROLLER

• US 20120162235A1
• Filed: 02/24/2012
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Technology AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: DRATH, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 9,400,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/505
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41885 characterised by modeling, simulation of the manufacturing system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5044 considering hardware capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method and system are provided for performing the computational execution of automation tasks with automation devices by combining one or more central processing units (CPU) and one or more Graphics Processing Units (GPU). The control tasks and/or control algorithms are executed by the single-core or multi-core control unit (CPU) and a multi-core-graphics processor (GPU) or both in parallel at the same time.

Claims

1. A method of performing a computational execution of multiple automation tasks with automation control devices including at least one of a single-core control unit and a multi-core control unit, the method comprising:

executing at least one of control tasks and control algorithms by at least one multi-core graphics processor unit (GPU).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the control tasks and the control algorithms are executed by at least one of a single-core control unit and a multi-core control unit (CPU) and the at least one multi-core graphics processor unit (GPU) at the same time.

3. The Method according to claim 1, wherein the multi task architecture is replaced by an architecture of parallel single tasks running parallel on at least one calculation unit of the GPU.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a majority of single tasks are running simultaneously on parallel calculation units of the at least one GPU.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

assigning different automation tasks to a single automation device running the different tasks independently and in parallel.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one automation control device is one of (i) simulated and (ii) emulated, and is acting as one virtual control device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a PLC and Soft-PLC runs different automation tasks or algorithms each on a separate set of calculation units and provides high performance real time behavior.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a robot controller, a motion controller, a virtual pendant of the robot control, and a virtual pendant of the motion controller controls different axles on each of a separate set of calculation units each comparable to a single task running on a single CPU.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein PLCs, Robot Controllers and Motion Controllers are being combined into one automation device which runs the different automation tasks on each a separate set of parallel units.

17. The method according to claim 2, wherein the multi task architecture is replaced by an architecture of parallel single tasks running parallel on at least one calculation unit of the GPU.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein a majority of single tasks are running simultaneously on parallel calculation units of the at least one GPU.

19. The method according to claim 18, comprising:

assigning different automation tasks to a single automation device running the different tasks independently and in parallel.

20. The method according to claim 4, comprising:

assigning different automation tasks to a single automation device running the different tasks independently and in parallel.

10. A system comprising:

industrial applications and devices;

at least one of a single-core control unit and a multi-core control unit (CPU); and

a multi-core graphics processor (GPU),

wherein the industrial applications and devices are configured to be subject to automation purposes and be controlled by at least one of control tasks and control algorithms being executed by (i) the at least one of the single-core and multi-core control unit and (ii) the GPU at the same time.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the multi task architecture of the at least one of the single-core control unit and the multi-core units is replaced by architecture of parallel single tasks running parallel on at least one calculation unit of the GPU.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein different automation tasks are assigned to a single automation device running the different tasks independently and in parallel.

13. The system according to claim 10, comprising:

at least one automation control device configured to be one of simulated and emulated and configured to act as one virtual control device.

14. The system according to claim 10, comprising:

at least one of a PLC and Soft-PLC configured to run at least one of different automation tasks and algorithms each on a separate set of calculation units and to provide high performance real time behavior.

15. The system according to claim 10, comprising:

at least one of a robot controller, a motion controller, a virtual pendant of the robot controller, and a virtual pendent of the motion controller configured to control different axles on each of a separate set of calculation units each comparable to a single task running on a single CPU.

16. The system according to claim 10, comprising:

PLCs, Robot Controllers and Motion Controllers being combined into one automation device which is configured to run different automation tasks on each of a separate set of parallel units.

21. The system according to claim 11, wherein different automation tasks are assigned to a single automation device running the different tasks independently and in parallel.

22. The system according to claim 21, comprising:

at least one automation control device configured to be one of simulated and emulated and configured to act as one virtual control device.

23. The system according to claim 22, comprising:

at least one of a PLC and Soft-PLC configured to run at least one of different automation tasks and algorithms each on a separate set of calculation units and to provide high performance real time behavior.

24. The system according to claim 23, comprising:

at least one of a robot controller, a motion controller, a virtual pendant of the robot controller, and a virtual pendent of the motion controller configured to control different axles on each of a separate set of calculation units each comparable to a single task running on a single CPU.

25. The system according to claim 24, comprising:

PLCs, Robot Controllers and Motion Controllers being combined into one automation device which is configured to run different automation tasks on each of a separate set of parallel units.