US 12,265,367 B2
Artificial intelligence (AI) companions for function blocks in a programmable logic controller (PLC) program for integrating AI in automation
Lingyun Wang, Princeton, NJ (US); and Arquimedes Martinez Canedo, Plainsboro, NJ (US)
Assigned to Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich (DE)
Appl. No. 17/754,413
Filed by Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich (DE)
PCT Filed Oct. 14, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/056088
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 31, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/076093, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 22, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0342377 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. G05B 19/05 (2006.01); G06N 3/044 (2023.01)
CPC G05B 19/056 (2013.01) [G06N 3/044 (2023.01); G05B 2219/13004 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for operating a control program of a programmable logic controller (PLC), the system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory for storing algorithms executed by the processor, the algorithms comprising:
a plurality of function blocks comprising at least one input and at least one output, each function block configured to control a designated control function of the control program;
a control application designed to communicate with automation equipment using one or more automation functions, wherein each automation function comprises one or more equipment-agnostic instructions;
a plurality of artificial intelligence (AI) companions such that the at least one input and the at least one output of an existing function block are also available for a corresponding AI companion, wherein any function blocks in the control program are integrated with a respective AI companion which are generated automatically, wherein each function block has an associated AI companion configured to perform steps comprising:
using the at least one input and the at least one output to train the associated AI companion, and
once the associated AI companion is fully trained, the associated AI companion is configured to take over an original function block and perform an operation with some unknown inputs; and
a runtime component for executing a runtime operation of the PLC, the runtime operation comprising:
enhancing a functionality of the plurality of function blocks with the plurality of artificial intelligence (AI) companions in a passive state of monitoring or with the plurality of artificial intelligence (AI) companions in an active state of over taking control, wherein AI companion for function blocks and groups of function blocks in PLC programs are provided such that the AI companion is highly integrated with a PLC program, and wherein an automatic generation of AI companions that are integral to function blocks is provided and AI companions get data in and out directly from a process image.