Using cloud-based data to facilitate enhancing performance in connection with an industrial automation system

• US 9,786,197 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Asenjo, Juan, Strohmenger, John, Nawalaniec, Stephen, Hegrat, Bradford H., Harkulich, Joseph A., Korpela, Jessica Lin, Wright, Jenifer Rydberg, Hessmer, Rainer, Dyck, John, Hill, Edward Alan, Conti, Sal
• Primary Examiner(s): Koneru, Sujay
• Application Number:
  US14/087,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20140335480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 705 721
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/18 Book-keeping or economics

Abstract

A cloud-based performance enhancement service captures and collects data relating to interactions of users with industrial automation systems of multiple industrial customers for storage and analysis on a cloud platform. The service employs a performance enhancement component that analyzes the data to facilitate determining correlations between certain user interactions and favorable performance of an industrial automation system, determining user interactions that are less favorable or unsafe, determining alternative actions that a user can take to achieve a same or similar preferred operational result, generating recommendations relating to the alternative actions, determining or designing components or techniques that can automate a preferred user action, determining improved user assignments in connection with the industrial automation system, and/or generating training modules or presentations based on preferred user actions that can be used to train users to more efficiently interact with an industrial automation system to achieve improved system performance.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a memory that stores computer-executable components;

a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, that executes computer-executable components, the computer-executable components comprising;

a collection component configured to collect a set of data associated with a set of devices of an industrial automation system and a set of users associated with the industrial automation system, and store the set of data in a data store that is part of a cloud platform; and

a performance enhancement component configured to determine a correlation between a set of user actions of a user in connection with performance of a work task associated with operation of the industrial automation system and a defined favorable performance of the industrial automation system, based on a set of results of an analysis of the set of data,

wherein the performance enhancement component is further configured to simulate performance of work tasks by respective users of the set of users, based on the correlation and the set of results of the analysis, and determine respective work assignments to be assigned to the respective users to perform respective sets of work tasks in connection with the operation of the industrial automation system based on the simulation results of the simulation of the performance of the work tasks by the respective users,

wherein the set of data comprises respective subsets of data relating to respective work-performance-related characteristics associated with the respective users, comprising the user,

wherein, based on the correlation and the set of results of the analysis, the performance enhancement component is further configured to design a component that is to be employed in the industrial automation system to reproduce and perform a preferred user action of the set of user actions to automate performance of the preferred user action in connection with the operation of the industrial automation system, and

wherein the preferred user action is determined to satisfy a defined threshold performance parameter associated with the defined favorable performance.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the performance enhancement component is further configured to determine the set of user actions of the user is a set of preferred user actions, comprising the preferred user action, based on the set of results of the analysis of the data that indicates the set of user actions satisfies the defined threshold performance parameter associated with the defined favorable performance.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the performance enhancement component is further configured to generate a training presentation based on the set of preferred user actions to facilitate training one or more users of the set of users, wherein the user is in the set of users.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the training presentation comprises at least one of a video, an animated video, a visual illustration, an audio presentation, a training model, an interactive training simulation, printed materials, written instructions, a training manual, a training guide, a searchable training or troubleshooting database, a poster, or a placard, that presents information relating to the set of preferred user actions.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the performance enhancement component is further configured to determine an alternate user action for a second user of the set of users to perform to facilitate performance of the work task in place of a second preferred user action of the set of defined preferred user actions to facilitate training the second user to perform the work task to satisfy a defined threshold acceptable performance level even though it is determined that the second user is not able to perform the second preferred user action.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the performance enhancement component is further configured to determine the alternate user action based on the set of results of the analysis of the set of data, wherein the set of data comprises data relating to a work-performance-related characteristic associated with the second user and a performance-related characteristic relating to the second preferred user action.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the performance enhancement component is further configured to determine the alternate user action that the performance enhancement component determines will produce or substantially produce the defined favorable performance of the industrial automation system.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the performance enhancement component is further configured to determine or design at least one of the component, a device, a process, a technique, or an algorithm that emulates at least one preferred user action comprising the preferred user action, of the set of preferred user actions, based on the set of results of the analysis of the data, to facilitate automation of the at least one preferred user action for performance of the at least one preferred user action by a portion of the industrial automation system comprising at least one of the component, the device, the process, the technique, or the algorithm.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the performance enhancement component is further configured to facilitate incorporation or integration of at least one of the component, the device, the process, the technique, or the algorithm into or with the industrial automation system.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the performance enhancement component is further configured to determine a second set of user actions performed by a second user of the set of users in connection with performance of the work task associated with the operation of the industrial automation system is associated with a defined unfavorable performance of the industrial automation system, based on a result of the set of results of the analysis of the data that indicates the second set of user actions at least one of satisfies a defined safety threshold that indicates the second set of user actions is unsafe or does not satisfy the defined threshold performance parameter associated with the defined favorable performance.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the performance enhancement component is further configured to determine one or more modified user actions that are determined to be able to replace one or more user actions of the second set of user actions to facilitate the performance of the work task to achieve a performance result of the industrial automation system that is at least more favorable than the defined unfavorable performance of the industrial automation system associated with the second set of user actions.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the performance enhancement component is further configured to at least one of generate a training presentation based on the one or more modified user actions or generate a recommendation message to recommend that the one or more modified user actions be performed in place of the one or more user actions, to facilitate training the second user.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the performance enhancement component is further configured to determine an enhanced set of work assignments comprising a first work assignment that is assigned to the user to perform a first set of work tasks in connection with the operation of the industrial automation system and a second work assignment that is assigned to a second user of the set of users to perform a second set of work tasks in connection with the operation of the industrial automation system based on the set of results of the analysis of the set of data, wherein the set of data comprises a first subset of data relating to a first set of work-performance-related characteristics associated with the user and a second set of work-performance-related characteristics associated with the second user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the performance enhancement component is further configured to determine the enhanced set of work assignments based on a determination that performance of the industrial automation system will be higher in response to assignment of the first work assignment to the user and assignment of the second work assignment to the second user than performance of the industrial automation system in response to assignment of the first work assignment to the second user and assignment of the second work assignment to the user.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the collection component or the performance enhancement component is part of the cloud platform.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising an interface component configured to interface the cloud platform with the industrial automation system via a cloud gateway device of the industrial automation system to facilitate communication of the set of data from the industrial automation system to at least one of the collection component or the performance enhancement component.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the performance enhancement component, the collection component, or the interface component facilitates capture of the set of data associated with the set of devices and the set of users, and the communication of the set of data to at least one of the collection component or the performance enhancement component.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a set of sensor components associated with at least one of the set of users or the industrial automation system, wherein the set of sensor components are configured to sense conditions associated with at least one of the set of users or the industrial automation system and generate a subset of the set of data based on the conditions associated with at least one of the set of users or the industrial automation system.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of data comprises at least one of data relating to the set of users, data associated with a communication device associated with the user, data relating to at least one customer entity associated with the industrial automation system, data relating to an industrial device of the set of devices, data relating to an industrial process associated with the set of devices, data relating to an industrial asset associated with the industrial automation system, data relating to a network-related device of the set of devices that facilitates data communications associated with the industrial automation system, data relating to an operating system associated with the industrial automation system, data relating to software associated with the industrial automation system, or data relating to firmware associated with the industrial automation system.

20. A method, comprising:

obtaining a set of data associated with a set of devices of an industrial automation system and a set of users associated with the industrial automation system for storage in a data store of a cloud platform associated with the industrial automation system;

determining a correlation between a set of user actions of a user in connection with performing a work duty associated with operation of the industrial automation system and a defined favorable performance result of the industrial automation system, based on a set of results of analysis of the set of data;

determining respective work assignments that are assigned to respective users of the set of users to perform respective sets of work tasks in connection with the operation of the industrial automation system based on a simulation of performance of work tasks by the respective users that is generated based on the correlation and the set of results of the analysis of the set of data, wherein the set of data comprises respective subsets of data relating to respective sets of work-performance-related characteristics associated with the respective users, comprising the user; and

based on the correlation and the set of results of the analysis, determining a design of a function that is to be employed in the industrial automation system to perform a defined preferred user action of the set of user actions to automate performance of the defined preferred user action, wherein the defined preferred user action is determined to satisfy a defined threshold performance parameter associated with the defined favorable performance result.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

determining that the set of user actions of the user satisfies the defined threshold performance parameter associated with the defined favorable performance of the industrial automation system based on the set of results of the analysis of the data; and

determining the set of user actions of the user is a set of defined preferred user actions comprising the defined preferred user action, in response to determining that the set of user actions of the user satisfies the defined threshold performance parameter.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

generating a training presentation based on the set of defined preferred user actions to facilitate training one or more users of the set of users, wherein the user is in the set of users.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining that a second user of the set of users is not capable of performing a second defined preferred user action of the set of defined preferred user actions in connection with the work duty based on the set of results of the analysis of the set of data, wherein the set of data comprises data relating to a work-performance-related characteristic associated with the second user and a performance-related characteristic relating to the defined preferred user action; and

in response to determining that the second user is not capable of performing the second defined preferred user action, determining an alternate user action for the second user to perform to facilitate performing the work duty in place of the second defined preferred user action to facilitate training the second user to perform the work duty to satisfy a defined threshold acceptable performance level even though it is determined that the second user is not able to perform the second defined preferred user action.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the determining the alternate user action comprises determining an alternate user action that results or substantially results in obtaining the defined favorable performance result of the industrial automation system.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining at least one of the function, a device, a process, a technique, or an algorithm that emulates at least one defined preferred user action, comprising the defined preferred user action, of the set of defined preferred user actions, based on the set of results of the analysis of the data, to facilitate automation of the at least one defined preferred user action for performing of the at least one defined preferred user action by a portion of the industrial automation system that comprises at least one of the function, the device, the process, the technique, or the algorithm.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

facilitating integrating at least one of the function, the device, the process, the technique, or the algorithm with the industrial automation system.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

determining a second set of user actions performed by a second user of the set of users in connection with performing the work duty associated with the operation of the industrial automation system is associated with a defined unfavorable performance of the industrial automation system, based on a result of the set of results of the analysis of the data that indicates the second set of user actions at least one of satisfies a defined safety threshold that indicates the second set of user actions is unsafe or does not satisfy a defined threshold performance parameter associated with the defined favorable performance result.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

determining one or more modified user actions that are determined to be able to replace one or more user actions of the second set of user actions to facilitate the performing of the work duty to achieve a performance result of the industrial automation system that is at least more favorable than the defined unfavorable performance of the industrial automation system associated with the second set of user actions.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

at least one of;

generating a training presentation based on the one or more modified user actions to facilitate training the second user, or

generating a recommendation message to recommend that the one or more modified user actions be performed in place of the one or more user actions to facilitate training the second user.

30. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

determining an enhanced set of work assignments comprising a first work assignment that is assigned to the user to perform a first set of work tasks in connection with the operation of the industrial automation system and a second work assignment that is assigned to a second user of the respective users to perform a second set of work tasks in connection with the operation of the industrial automation system based on the set of results of the analysis of the set of data, wherein the set of data comprises a first subset of data relating to a first set of work-performance-related characteristics associated with the user and a second set of work-performance-related characteristics associated with the second user.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

determining that performance of the industrial automation system will be higher in response to assignment of the first work assignment to the user and assignment of the second work assignment to the second user than performance of the industrial automation system in response to assignment of the first work assignment to the second user and assignment of the second work assignment to the user,

wherein the determining the enhanced set of work assignments further comprises determining the enhanced set of work assignments in response to determining that the performance of the industrial automation system will be higher in response to assignment of the first work assignment to the user and assignment of the second work assignment to the second user.

32. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

interfacing the cloud platform with the industrial automation system; and

monitoring the industrial automation system via the interfacing of the cloud platform with the industrial automation system to facilitate the obtaining of the set of data.

33. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

capturing the set of data associated with the set of devices and the set of users; and

storing the set of data in the data store of the cloud platform.

34. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

detecting conditions associated with at least one of the set of users or the industrial automation system; and

generating a subset of the set of data based on the conditions associated with at least one of the set of users or the industrial automation system.

35. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a system comprising a processor to perform operations, comprising:

collecting a set of data associated with a set of devices of an industrial automation system and a set of users associated with the industrial automation system for storage in a data store of a cloud platform associated with the industrial automation system, wherein the set of users comprises a first user and a second user;

determining a correlation between a set of user actions of the first user in connection with performing a work task associated with operation of the industrial automation system and a defined favorable performance result of the industrial automation system, based on a set of results of analysis of the set of data;

determining an enhanced set of work assignments comprising a first work assignment that is assigned to the first user to perform a first set of work tasks in connection with the operation of the industrial automation system and a second work assignment that is assigned to the second user to perform a second set of work tasks in connection with the operation of the industrial automation system based on a simulation of performance of work tasks by the respective users that is generated based on the correlation and the set of results of the analysis of the set of data, wherein the set of data comprises a first subset of data relating to a first set of work-performance-related characteristics associated with the user and a second set of work-performance-related characteristics associated with the second user; and

based on the correlation and the set of results of the analysis, generating a component that is usable in the industrial automation system to facilitate performance of a defined preferred user action of the set of user actions to facilitate automation of the defined preferred user action in connection with operation of the industrial automation system, wherein the defined preferred user action is determined to satisfy a defined threshold performance parameter associated with the defined favorable performance result.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating a training presentation based on the correlation between the set of user actions of the first user in connection with performing the work task associated with the operation of the industrial automation system and the defined favorable performance result of the industrial automation system; and

presenting the training presentation to facilitate training one or more users of the set of users.