EP2663905A1

EP2663905A1 - Product sensor, product with the product sensor, system and method for allowing communication between the product sensor and the system

Info

Publication number: EP2663905A1
Application number: EP12715543.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thomas Hubauer; Christoph LEGAT; Christian Seitz
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 2011-04-05
Filing date: 2012-03-28
Publication date: 2013-11-20
Also published as: CN103443724A; US9696179B2; KR20140027225A; WO2012136526A1; DE102011006786A1; DE102011006786B4; US20140022093A1; CN103443724B; KR101955339B1

Abstract

A product may be provided with a product sensor, thus making it possible to determine, together with the product, data relating to a system or a machine with the aid of the product sensor. The data determined can be used to diagnose and/or control the system or machine. In this case, it is advantageous that the data are obtained at the location of the product and it is thus possible to directly determine a desirable or undesirable effect (for example of environmental parameters or of the system itself) on the product. This system can be used, for example, in automation, in systems or machines or in different product manufacture variants.

Description

description

Product sensor, product with product sensor, system and method for communication between product sensor and system

The invention relates to a product sensor, a product having at least one such product sensor, a system with a diagnostic device and a method for communication between the product sensor and the system.

To ensure the product-specific requirements of a manufacturing process, eg avoiding shocks or vibrations during transport of a product following a certain production step or avoiding exceeding of given temperatures (eg if the product is perishable goods), must correspond in the entire plant suitable sensors are instal ^¬ lated. However, it is precisely the effects of disturbances or other environmental parameters of the system on the product itself that can only be detected to a limited extent by sensors that are attached to components of the system.

Frequently, faults in system components have a direct effect on the product, eg a defective axis causes unwanted vibration of the product. It is extremely complicated to measure such effects based on installed in the plant Sen ^¬ sensors. Furthermore, it is disadvantageous that the large number of sensors required for this purpose are not necessary for the control process of the installation, but contribute to an increased effort, which is logistical (connection of the plurality of sensors) as well as communication technology (protocols for communication with the sensors and evaluation of the communication) and thus increases the installation costs and the maintenance of the system. When adapting the production process or producing other (especially other) products, it may be necessary to revise the entire system to meet the new manufacturing or product specific requirements for the product adapt testing the quality of production outcome notwendi ^¬ gen sensors.

The object of the invention is to avoid the abovementioned disadvantages and in particular to provide a solution for the efficient operation of a plant.

This object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

To solve the problem, a product sensor for a product that can be transported in a plant, produced or machined, proposed with

- a processing unit for providing precisely measured ^¬ ner data or data derived therefrom to the system.

A plant means any plant in which products can be manufactured, processed, processed and / or transported. Also, it may be the machine is a machine. In the system it may be a manufacturing facility or an automation ^¬ tisierungsanlage in particular.

The product sensor is, for example, i.a. a sensor for detecting a physically or chemically measurable variable. This size is preferably in the form of (digital

and / or analog) data that can be further processed by the processing unit. In this sense, measured data can also be processed by the processing unit or (pre-) processed into "derived" data. Da ^¬ th and / or the derived data are provided to the system. This provision can take place actively in the form of a transmission to the plant; Alternatively, it is possible that the system (or a processing unit of the system) requests the data from the product sensor. The provision or transmission of data and / or derived data can be regular or irregular, eg Eintre ^¬ th specified events or times, or when Errei ^¬ chen predefined positions in space (so-called. Gateways). Advantageous here has application range covers the monitoring of a manufacturing or transportation system can not be installed a large number of Sen ^¬ sensors on the system itself to about the condition of the plant - to be informed - especially if it has an impact on the product. Rather, the product sensor can be arranged (eg detachably fastened) on each of the products or on a part of the products. This enables effective and product-related recording of measured variables. In the event of faults, the data or the derived data can be transmitted to an inspection entity or diagnostic facility (eg, the facility or a central diagnostic facility) immediately or later via an arbitrarily designed interface facility. The data from the product sensors can be used, for example, for a runtime-parallel diagnosis of production systems in order to detect errors whose effects can be observed directly on products and to use them for the diagnosis of, for example, the entire system.

A development is that the product sensor can be attached to the product.

It is also a development that the product sensor is integrated in the product or in a material carrier for the product. The product sensor can be embodied as an active sensor or it can have at least one connection possibility for a sensor. For example, the product sensor is mobile and can be attached to the product. In particular, the product sensor may be detachably connected to the product.

The product sensor may also be attached to a material carrier of the product. Such a material carrier may for example be a transport pallet which receives the product and / or carries, for example, together with the product, an independent function independent of other components of the installation (eg the transport of the product).

Another development is that the processing unit is configured to store the measured data or the derived data. In particular, it is a further development that the proces ^¬ processing unit and / or the product sensor comprises a communications interface ^¬ basis of which the measured data or the data derived can be transferred to the plant. The communication of data and / or the derived data can be made unidirectional or bidirectional via the Kommunikati ^¬ onsschnittstelle. For this, a communications pro ^¬ protocol can be used that allows a safe and / or fehlerto ^¬ lerante transmission and against which is CAPS LOCK bar if necessary, that the communication does not properly func ^¬ ned.

A refinement of this is that the communica ^¬ tion interface is a wireless or a wired communication interface.

Thus, the data and / or the derived data can be transmitted via a radio link, eg via a mobile radio interface, a WLAN connection, a Bluetooth connection, by means of induction, etc. It is also possible that a wired communication interface is used, For example, to transfer collected data (and any data derived from it). For example, an electrical contact can take place at certain locations of a transport system, so that fault-tolerant, secure and fast data transmission can be realized with this contacting. Communication with the system may be initiated by the product sensor or the system. The product sensor can thus respond to a request from the system or transmit the data to the system on its own.

The communication can also be carried out at predetermined times, at predetermined locations of the plant (or the product in the plant) and / or in the presence of predetermined conditions or conditions. Also, the communication can be prioritized, so that a fault or an error can be detected quickly by the system.

It is also a development that the provision of the data or the derived data fulfills real-time requirements.

Thus, the product sensor can be designed such that the data can be forwarded to the system while observing real-time conditions. For this the product sensor is preferably equipped kitchens ^¬ tet with correspondingly faster hardware. Preferably, in this case, a communication ^¬ interface is used, which also meets real-time requirements. This makes it possible to use the product sensor also for a timely control of the system.

Furthermore, it is a development that on the basis of the product sensor at least one selection of the following variables can be determined or measured and provided in the form of data of the plant:

a temperature;

a relative or absolute position of the product sensor;

a movement, acceleration or orientation of the product sensor;

- a vibration. Basically, the product sensor can provide any size, physically or chemically measurable, in the form of data (or derived data). In the context of an additional development, the processing unit is set up such that the measured data and / or the derived data can be monitored.

For example, the measured data and / or the derived data can be stored continuously at certain (predetermined) points in time or when certain (predefined) events occur. This allows, for example, an efficient documentation of the production process, as well as in Nachhi ^¬ NO (eg for quality assurance) can be determined, which influences the product during the manufacturing process in the

Was exposed to plant or if given Fertigungsbedingun ^¬ conditions for this product were met. Accordingly, a production log can point out that pre ^¬ ne were writing environmental parameters were during the manufacture of the product in a given area and thus carried out the manufacturing properly. Accordingly, also Qualitätsmän ^¬ gel which can not be seen on the finished product from the outside, are detected before the product actually been ^¬ provides or is used.

In particular, it is possible for the processing unit to already compare the measured data and / or the derived data with predetermined values and, in the event of a deviation (eg, exceeding or falling short of a predetermined threshold value), provide a corresponding message for the system, for example, to the system. Based on this message, an appropriate action can then be ^¬ manages to detect defective products as soon as possible and to prevent the production of further potentially error-lerhafter products on the side of the plant.

In principle, the evaluation of the measured data or the derived data can thus be performed on the product sensor (the processing unit of the product sensor) and / or (in the case of the plant of a processing or diagnosis unit of the plant) ^¬ SUC gene. countermeasures are preferably initiated from the complex. The communication between the system and the product sensor can be unidirectional or bidirectional. In particular, various protocols are used so that, for example, ensures a secure communication link (eg radio) between product sensor and system that ausgetausch ^¬ th messages arrive or that the failure of the communication link can be noticed.

A next development consists in that a symptom can be determined on the basis of the measured data or the data derived therefrom on the basis of the processing unit.

One embodiment is that based on the symptom a Di ^¬ agnose for the system can be determined.

An alternative embodiment is that based on the symptom a diagnosis for the system can be determined ba ^¬ sierend on at least one assumption.

For example, assumptions can be made that assume there are symptoms that have not yet been recognized. In this case it is possible to detect errors or faults that are not yet or not yet completely ^¬ occur. From the amount of already existing data can therefore be deduced to a lot of possible disturbances. These faults can be made plausible on the basis of collected data or other knowledge, so that even with incomplete data for a final assessment of a fault it is possible to make statements regarding the probability of this error occurring.

Here, it is noted that the symptom based on the ge ^¬ measured data and / or the derived data in the system and / or in the product sensor, in particular in the processing processing unit of the product sensor, can be determined. Furthermore, the diagnosis can be carried out by the product sensor and / or by the system. Advantageously, the system can resort to ei ^¬ ne variety of different data for the preparation of the diagnosis. Here, the set of possible assumptions taking into account already existing symptoms or data is limited, so that a Diag ^¬ nose is at an early stage and, in particular possible in time. The above object is also achieved by means of a Pro ^¬ domestic product with at least one of the product sensors described herein.

Also, the above object is achieved by means of a system with a diagnostic device for communication with at least one product sensor as described herein.

The diagnostic device may have a communication interface for communicating with the product sensors. In particular, based on the transmitted data of several product sensors, a diagnosis concerning the system or a part of the system can be made.

Also, to solve the problem, a method is proposed for communication between a product sensor and a system,

- where the data measured by the product sensor for a product that is transportable, manufacturable or workable is determined, - the data measured or derived therefrom

Data is transferred to the system.

The measured data are determined, for example, by a sensor or a sensor module measuring physical, electrical and / or chemical parameters and providing them in the form of data. A further development is that based on the ge ^¬ measured data or data derived a diagnosis of the system is performed. In addition, it should be noted that the processing unit of the

May, inter alia, product sensor having a processor unit in the form of any processor or computer or Compu ^¬ ters with correspondingly necessary periphery (memory, Germany put / output interfaces, input-output devices, etc.) may be excluded leads. Accordingly, the system, at least one such processor unit, for example, to perform the here be written ^¬ diagnosis, have.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated and explained below with reference to the drawings.

Shown schematically are components of a plant for manufacturing or transporting products and a plant control using product sensors on the products,

Functional models, in particular of a product sensor for modeling an environment situation and a feature model,

3 shows functions, agents and cooperating Model le ^¬ a preferred data processing in a system constructed in this manner,

4 schematically shows components of a system similar to Fig.l with additional specification of control and functional features of the various components and

5 shows an exemplary architecture of a product sensor or a processing unit of a product sensor A product can have at least one product sensor. Also, such a product can be called with at least one product ^¬ sensor as an intelligent product. Insbeson ^¬ particular may be an embedded system with sensors, which are mounted on carriers or material on workpieces such intelligent product. The intelligent product may further include a processing unit, the play has at ^¬ a control software, by means of which, for example, continuously or at predetermined time points determined by the sensors (for example measured) data can be processed, for example, is carried out by making a comparison with predetermined values, to detect, control and / or document deviations in the manufacturing process of the product. Thus the information to product quality may for example be based on the data available ge ^¬ available upon request.

In the present context, a product is equipped with at least one product sensor (for example, as an embedded system), wherein the environment is monitored on the basis of the at least one product sensor and product-relevant data are recorded and transmitted to the system. The product-relevant data are e.g. Data relating to the manufacture, processing, processing and / or transport of the product. The data may be measurement data, derived data or process parameters, e.g.

- a temperature of the product or near the

Product (particularly advantageous if the product is perishable goods);

a welding temperature during the manufacture of the product;

- A vibration that is recorded depending on position with the movement of the product along a conveyor belt ^¬ .

The system receives the data and can use this example for the Qua ^¬ surance, diagnosis and / or monitoring of the system. So it is possible, for example, during maintenance to provide important information or to intervene in case of failure as soon as possible in the system or its components or control functions. Product sensors can be mounted directly in or on the product. It is also possible that sensors or even the product sensors are already completely or partially attached to or in material carriers of a material flow system. The application of mobile product sensors thus advantageously serves as an information supplier for the diagnosis of the system.

In addition to this local, product-centric role, the product can also play a global role as an information provider for on-site diagnostic systems. For this purpose ^¬ the interpreted data from the sensors, depending on the application, selectively or fully transferred and, for example, as so-called Sym ^¬ toms by means of installed radio modules to the diagnostic system. So can be easily determined and also used by the transfer of the diagnostic system for diagnosing faults in the entire manufacturing system product-specific process requirements and / or product-dependent effects of errors, such as tempera ^¬ fluctuations or vibrations.

For example, the symptom may be understood to mean measured or derived data associated with a particular measurand. The measured value is, for example, threshold values ^¬ or assigned fixed limits, see system status for a critical or represent an actual or anticipated fault condition. In this case, the measured variables may be, in particular, physically or, if appropriate, chemically measurable quantities. When planning or adapting a system (eg a production plant) intelligent products or pro ^¬ duktsensoren for products can already be considered. The often required at Sen ^¬ sensors for automation Echtzeitfä- Depending on the design, it is optional; In particular, such real-time capability is unnecessary if the sensors are not used to control the system. However, the sensors can already be taken into account in the planning of the quality assurance, in order to be able to reliably and / or timely detect any possible loss of quality of the product by using the additional data. This can also increase reliability requirements for the system.

Thus, by integrating mobile product sensors on the product and using their determined data in the diagnostic system, the production facility can be improved. A Ver ^¬ improvement is to mistake the measurable impact on the product of the system to be able to recognize (on time). For example, the data in the form of measurements taken from the product sensors may be communicated to the diagnostic system, which may either detect errors or more accurately identify an error. This is particularly advantageous when different diagnoses differ by their effect on the product.

Is provided in particular a method of support alarm zen ^¬ a diagnosis of equipment, for example, production machinery or equipment, by datenerfassende product sensors. Data from sensors installed on smart products can be used to run-time diagnostics of manufacturing systems to detect symptoms that are directly observable on the products and to use them to diagnose the entire system. Accordingly, the system or the entire system can be modified or adjusted. In particular ^¬ sondere the plant can then in another state, are optionally operated with a different task or programming.

Advantageously, therefore, a large number of additional sensors for monitoring the product quality do not have to be installed in the entire system, provided this is technically and spatially lent at all possible. Instead, product sensors can be flexible depending on the particular product is ^¬ sets. If different types of products manufactured or with different demands on the production process worked, the corresponding material support and / or intelligent products can be equipped with the necessary sensors in this way each, without these being permanently installed in parts of the plant Müs ^¬ sen. In particular, in the event that the product sensors are not required for the control of the system, may be no real-time communication of the product sensors with the system (and a corresponding response of the system within fixed time limits) necessary. This reduces the complexity and thus the costs of the plant and the operation.

Furthermore, for example, product sensors installed on material carriers or on smart products can be used to improve the diagnosis of the plant, since the plant is able to function correctly within a given operating range for the product during fault-free operation. Accordingly, the product sensors provide data corresponding to the allowable operating range. Is this permissible operating range is left, it can be found through the data delivered, be it from the product sensor itself (eg as an intelligent product with Verarbeitungsein ^¬ ness) or from the system (or a diagnostic system of the plant), the data continuously, for example, or at predetermined (regular or irregular) times. The data can be transmitted to the system by means of radio communication or by means of electrical contacting.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic system structure of a system 101. The system 101 serves to transport, process, process and / or manufacture products 102.

Such a product 102, which may also be referred to as an intelligent product, has a receiving or fixing 4

possibility for a product sensor 103. Vorzugswei ^¬ se is such a product sensor 103 is detachably arranged on or in the product 102 or attached. Optionally, a product sensor 103 or sensors connected to it can also be arranged on a product carrier (material carrier, eg carrier plate for the product).

The product sensor 103 shown enlarged by way of example has a processing unit 104, which comprises measured data md of environmental parameters and, if necessary, also processes or partially processes them. In particular, the processing unit to be 104 ausges ^¬ tattet with at least one sensor or at least ^¬ a terminal for connecting a sensor. The sensor can, for example, record transaction data, ambient temperatures or other physically or chemically detectable sizes and as measured data be ^¬ riding make. In addition, the product sensor 103 has a communication interface 105, which has an antenna 106 for transmitting the measured data md or data d obtained therefrom. The communication interface can also be part of the processing unit.

Also, the processing unit, the communication ^¬ interface and the antenna can be formed of a combination of a induction coil-like antenna and a sensor connected directly thereto ^¬ .

The measured data MD and / or its derived data d over a radio interface 107. For example, a gateway point 108 as one of the system 101 associated sections ^¬ transmitted. The gateway 108 is connected via a bus 109 or a line to other components of the system 101, for example with a diagnostic system 110 as an external system device for further processing of the measured or acquired data. The diagnostic system 110 may also be implemented as a component of a command and control center. In addition or as an alternative to the gateway 108, a computer or industrial PC (PC: Personal 5

Computer / workstation) 111 or a programmable logic controller (PLC) for receiving the measured data md or data d obtained therefrom may be formed by the communication interface 105 of the product sensor 103.

Instead of hard-wired lines such as the bus 109 or the line for transmission according to a protocol such as TCP / IP (TCP: Transmission Control Protocol / a network protocol in the Internet, IP: Internet Protocol), any other suitable transmission systems can be used, in particular ^¬ special radio-based transmission systems. Likewise, instead of a radio-supported transmission of the data from the product sensor 103 to the gateway 108 or other components of the system 101, a direct line-coupled connection can be selected. Such could for instance be configured in the form ei ^¬ nes so-called USB port and allow a connection by plugging the product sensor or a cable coupled thereto in, for example, a computer.

In the exemplary embodiment of PC 111 and an associated further bus 112 according to, for example, the standard PROFINET are preferably industrialized A ^¬ output subsystems 113, 115 coupled to the system one hundred and first The first of the subsystems 113 serves, for example, to control a conveyor belt 114 and to monitor its functionality. In particular a drive motor of the conveyor belt 114 can be controlled and sensors via the subsystem 113, e.g., rotation sensors on a drive shaft, a rotation of a drive roller guards ^¬. The second subsystem 115 serves, for example, to control or monitor further product processing, control or monitoring components 116, 117. Thus, the system 101 can no longer be monitored only by sensors arranged on components of the systems, but additionally or even completely, the system 101 can be monitored by the product sensors 103, which on, in or in the vicinity of the (intelligent) products (s) 102 are arranged.

For the transmission of the measurements and symptoms to the monitoring and diagnostic system, various designs with specific characteristics can be realized:

(i) The minimum time delay at the same time verhältnismä ^¬ SSIG high communications expense is achieved when the intelligent product 102 sends relevant symptoms immediately upon detection of the diagnostic system 110th These intelligent product is equipped with 102 either communi ^¬ cation systems high range or the entire factory or plant is 101 nationwide (with communication points such as wireless access points, WLAN:

Wireless Local Area Network).

(ii) Alternatively, communication may occur only at or near predefined communications gateways 108, 111, eg, after completion of a manufacturing stage or after completion of the product. In this way, the communication costs are significantly reduced, all ^¬ recently increased the response time of the system to the detected by the product sensor symptoms.

For example, the communication can be realized contactlessly by radio ^¬ technology. When using gateways 108 the instal for controlling the manufacturing system ^¬ profiled industrial PCs can be used as gateways 111.

2 shows components and functional or process sequence features for the acquisition and processing of the measured data d. In order to evaluate the data d measured by a sensor in the processing unit 104 of the product sensor 103 on the intelligent product 102, the diagnostic model sketched in simplified form in FIG. 2 is used. A characteristic (referred to as "Fea ^¬ ture") represents the temperature measured by the product sensor data d. 7

According to a feature meta-model 302 features will be interpreted by the embedded system so that symptoms gemes ^¬ sene data md or derived data may be generated d, describe the properties of the environment of the product 102 and characteristics of the plant one hundred and first The amount of preprocessing is determined by the processing and storage capacity of the embedded system. For example, current systems can compare measured values with critical thresholds, aggregate data or similar.

The feature meta-model 302 is, for example, a model as it may be integrated in the product sensor: a symptom 201 has at least one feature 202 here. The symptom 201 corresponds to the definition of a symptom 203 of a situation tions meta-model 303. A system element 204 includes Minim ^¬ least one symptom 203 and has at least one diagnosis 205. System elements may additionally be in a hierarchical part-whole relationship.

Thus, an application ^scenario with a multi-agent approach is also specified in which, for example, an adaptive production of a product 102 with an interactive diagnostics is improved. In this scenario, vibration-sensitive and vibration-insensitive products 102 are simultaneously conveyed in a system of conveyor belts 114. The product sensor 103 has, for example, a three-dimensional acceleration ^sensor and is arranged on a prototype of a product 102. By means of the product sensor 103 (or acceleration sensor) can be detected Erschüt ^¬ Chippings or vibrations, the measured values can be used as data to the diagnostic system 110, which is also referred to as a diagnostic agent, are übertra ^¬ gene to to diagnose possible errors of the conveyor belt 114.

The approach presented here concerns, for example an on ^¬ layers or production control in an automated Diagnosis is optionally implemented together with interaction of a Be ^{¬ service} person. This enables flexible adaptation to ^¬ of machine capabilities and helps in the case of deviations from specified operating conditions or other abnormalities, to prevent damage. In particular, an interpretation can be model-based. It can thus be predicted using a derived cause investigation, for example based on a Plausibilitätsschwellwer- th Diag ^¬ nose, said resulting ambiguities among competing approaches to be dissolved. To facilitate human intervention, suitable information devices can be provided which inform an operator, for example, of fault conditions. This enables potential fault conditions to be detected or avoided before they actually occur. The proposed architecture also integrates intelligent products in the form of mobile Senso ^¬ reindeer, which improves the robustness and reliability of production systems ^¬. Increasing demands for rapid response to market ^¬ trends and the increasing very flexible configuration of products by the customer lead to higher flexibility requirements of production systems, in particular with a view to providing flexible processes for smaller quantities and robustness against errors in the technical system.

Product-oriented manufacturing systems that are supported by the product sensors or smart products described here are a promising approach, especially for products that are to be manufactured or processed in small quantities. The present concept shows a possibility of interaction and cooperation of the product ^sensor with the production control system. The present approach allows a highly flexible and robust framework for the production, processing and / or processing of a product, in particular by means of a model-based diagnostic system, where appropriate with the assistance of operating personnel. By way of example, a flexible production ^{scenario is} shown, which can be used in conjunction with intelligent products and thus, among other things, permits a significantly improved diagnosis as a result. In particular, in ^¬ way of example a logistics system comprising a zufüh ^¬ rendes unidirectional conveyor belt, a distributor and two selectable outgoing conveyor belts that ^¬ example, lead to different machines is considered. Each transport belt section is driven by a shaft which is provided with egg ^¬ nem sensor for measuring the shaft rotation. As some transportable products may be sensitive to certain time ^¬ points during production, for example, due to a still uncured freshly glued connection configurations against VIB 102 product sensors are equipped with a digital product memory and an accelerometer, so that for example for the purpose of Quali ^¬ tätssicherung acceleration measured values can be determined and saved ^¬ chert. These product sensors are attached to one part (or alternatively to all) products.

The information provided by the product sensors can be combined with additional measurements to help diagnose the transport system. If, for example, the axis of a conveyor belt turns and a

Product, which is arranged on the conveyor belt, does not move, this indicates a transmission problem or communication problem for the determined measured values or a drive problem of the conveyor belt. Thus, the conveyor belt could have become unusable until it was repaired. For example, even irregular movements, such as sudden acceleration or vibration, can indicate storage problems of the conveyor belt; In this case, the affected conveyor belt should no longer be used for vibration-sensitive products until it is repaired. Depending on where the malfunction was diagnosed and / or occurred, a restriction of the use for the production can be made selectively, ie it is specifically the Part of the system (eg one of the conveyor belts) is no longer used for such products for which the malfunction could be detrimental. The other parts of the system could continue to be used unchanged. It is also possible that the only partially functional part of the system is used specifically for another product, for example, until its repair. This possibly prevents a failure of the system or reduces the service life of the system (because, for example, the system can be reused in a modified form until repair). This can already be taken into account in the production planning in order to optimize the use of the plant, for example with regard to the throughput with guaranteed product quality.

architecture

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an architecture of the multi-agent system. A functiona ^¬ formality of the system is realized by agents that provide four functions (also referred to as rolls):

a symptom provisioning function 308,

a situation analysis function 309,

a production control function 311 and

a monitor mediator function 310.

The upper half of Figure 3 shows these functions and meta-models associated with these functions, i.

a service meta-model 301,

the feature meta-model 302 (see also Fig. 2) and

- the situation meta-model 303 (see also Fig.2).

A possible realization of these functions by means of agents as well as exemplary concrete functions are shown in the lower section of FIG. Preferably, there is further provided a discovery service (not shown in Figure 3) that allows the agents to find interaction partners. The meta-models 301 to 303 comprise a relevant domains ^¬ know, ranging from up to process information definitions of diagnostic aspects, whereas specific agent, ie

a production services agent 304,

a product agent 305,

a diagnostic agent 306 and

a maintenance agent 307

Knowledge about concrete products and processes. The models are used for diagnostic purposes, but also serve as the basis for a service search that brings information providers and consumers together depending on the type of information offered and requested. To facilitate automated Infor ^¬ mationsverarbeitung and increase a Wiederbenutzbar- resistance and interchangeability of the model for ^¬ male semantic terms the beispielswei ^¬ se on the so-called Web Ontology Language (OWL) can be used based. In particular, the situation meta-model 303 is based on the description logic EL, a partial language of the profile OWL 2 EL, which allows queries to be answered in polynomial time (ie, efficient). For the feature meta-model 302, the profile OWL 2 RL can be used to facilitate Interpre ^¬ tation by means of a rule engine. Both pro ^¬ file be used to achieve a compromise between performance capability and expressiveness in terms of a settable to ^¬ evaluation procedures.

Symptom Provider A symptom provider realizes a collection of characteristics within a given area of responsibility defined by a set of system elements (SystemElement) of the proposed meta-model. In particular, the symptom provider includes the symptom provisioning function 308 thereto.

To its functionality from the Community agents anzubie ^¬ th, the symptom provider performs a registration with the Investigation Service by publication of the identification ^¬ number of system elements for which it is responsible by. Customers or users (in general: objects) can register with the symptom provider responsible for a relevant component for certain event classes, which are indicated by subconcepts of the symptom. After egg ^¬ nem reception of data or a feature from an associated source of information or pre-processing component such as a part of the machine or system, the symptom provider closes based on its feature meta-model 302 automatically to the corresponding symptom. Below are all customers or users or objects that have for this event or its parent concepts regist ^¬ riert notified by the symptom provider.

Situations analysis

The situation analysis includes the situation analysis function 309, which includes the process of interpreting symptoms based on the situation meta-model 303 and realized by the diagnostic agent 306. In order to receive the necessary input data, subscribed to the situational analysis function 309, the symptoms for which it wishes to Be ^¬ nachrichtigung as follows: First, it asks the ER mediation service after symptom providers, which for the Sys ^¬ temelemente that responsible for monitoring. Then, the situation analysis function 309 subscribes to each of these symptom providers for the specific symptoms, including subconceptions of the symptoms (ie, symptoms dependent ^thereon or ^{subordinate to it} ).

Upon receipt of a symptom, the situational analysis function 309 causes the interpretation process that egg NEN set of errors is determined (for example, defects or disorders), which may possibly be a cause of observations or gemes ^¬ sene data. By accepting the assumption that there are symptoms that have not yet been recognized is the The situation analysis function 309 will be able to detect errors that have not or not yet fully occurred. A diagnosis that does not require any additional Sym ^¬ toms are adopted, will apply more likely than a diagnosis that is based on assumptions. Thus, the situation analysis function 309 adds their interpretations ^¬ functions with a plausibility measure.

The services of the situation analysis function 309 can be called frequently. In order to provide responsiveness and efficiency of the situation analysis function 309 ensures a realization of the situation analysis described below uses a so-called "Anytime" approach (that is, a call is possible at any time, and a result is also depending ^¬ currently provided) and a lower limit pl regarding the quality of the solutions. Depending on confi ^¬ regener- threshold values pl _m and pl _D solves the situational analysis function 309 both automated reactions and interactions of the operator of: First, a monitoring mediator is informed of the full set of diagnostics on the necessary assumptions and their Plausibility values. If the likelihood of the best diagnosis, which was determined by the situation analysis function 309, the configurable first threshold pl _m exceeds and if at ^¬ a value by an amount of the second threshold value pl _D least in the second best alternative less plausible as the best If value is then, the situation analysis function 309 additionally causes the production control devices to automatically take protective measures and send a message about that decision to the monitoring mediator. Production control

The production controller with the associated production control function 311 is responsible for the interaction with the plant. Here, a management and control ^¬ functionality of the associated system elements in a height ^¬ ren level are realized, which in turn provides within the production system ^¬ specific ways. The functionality realized by the production control is offered as a service on higher control systems such as production planning. To be findable, the production controller registers with the investigative service. In the case of a malfunction of the system identified taking into account the thresholds, the production controller is informed of the diagnosis by the situation analysis function. This information allows production control to limit the production services offered through the discovery service to reduce the likelihood of machine and / or product damage. The model and the fault condition has been identified by the situation analysis function 309, made ^¬ light production control to limit the ability of the machine or system as little as possible, as opposed to a full temporary shutdown of the machine or system Consequence of a nonspecific common disorder.

Surveillance Mediator

The monitor-mediator to the associated monitoring mediator function 310 provides an interface Zvi ^¬ rule to the agent-based automated control system and an operator. Using the monitoring mediator, the operator of the situation analysis selected components of the system and configured sibilitäts plausibility thresholds which are used by the production control ^¬ pl _m, lo, and the lower limit PL, which by the situational Analysis is used.

After acquiring a set of plausible diagnoses through the situation analysis, the monitoring mediator allows the operator to view the alternatives manually, if necessary 5

To change interpretations and revoke automated responses. In addition, the monitoring mediator assists the operator in determining additional information unavailable by automated sensors and providing it to the diagnostic process. The monitoring mediator is therefore preferably a central component in the proposed interactive approach to diagnostics during production. Exemplary implementation

4 shows an exemplary implementation of the pre-chosen here ^¬ approach in an industrial production environment. In this case, the same reference numerals as in Fig.l used for components and functions which are the same or the same or at least comparable to those of Fig.l, and also to the comments on the other figures, in particular Fig.l referenced. The real-time communication of the automation system, which can for example be based on PROFINET / PROFIBUS not to disturb can optionally communication of multi-agent system for an implementation using already in ^¬ stallierter means of communication (eg existing corporate networks) can be used. The communications con ^¬ stuffs it may be, for example TCP / lP networks act (TCP: Trans ^¬ Control Protocol / Network protocol on the Internet / IP: Internet Protocol). It can be used a standardized or prop ^¬ rietäre multi-agent platform. Also, the system can build on a publicly accessible platform. The functionalities required for the services described here are provided by most of the available systems. This allows a flexible and cost- ^effective use of the solution presented here. Production Services Agent

For example, the production services agent 304 may be implemented in the industrial PC 111 (see FIG. 4). The production services agent 304 serves both as a symptom provider and for production control. In the latter function, the production services agent 304 allows an operator to configure the production control system. In addition, production services agent 304 controls the production process to ensure that configurations that could damage the machine or product are avoided.

In the symptom provisioning function 308, the production services agent 304 interprets data provided by machine-mounted ^sensors . From these data, characteristics which result using the feature model to Sympto ^¬ men result (ie, the symptoms can be derived from the characteristic model, can be determined so that specific symptoms for specific characteristics). Such behavior of the production services agent 304 may be achieved by a rule engine, whereby the feature meta model 302 and the feature models may be constrained to OWL 2 RL. The sensor and parameterization data can be accessed as on process variables of a real-time control kernel (based eg on the OPC UA standard based on a locally executed client-server protocol). All Components ^¬ th including infrastructure and the agent itself can be realized, for example, on the industrial PC 111, which is equipped for example with a TCP / IP communication link, and a programmable logic controller (such as a programmable logic controller, PLC), a real-time Performs control. It should additionally be noted that the real-time control is optional and, if necessary - depending on the field of use - even slower (not real-time) Kom ^¬ components can be used. 7

The production services agent 304 may use axis ^motion sensors to derive a symptom: thus, the symptoms may be

- stopping the axle (AxleStop) or

- about one axis rotation (AxleTurning)

act. This is also shown in FIG.

The symptoms are then sent to the diagnostic agent 306, which is installed, for example in the diagnostic system 110 and registered for the corresponding symptom (see FIG. ^¬ situ ation analysis function).

If the production services agent 304 is informed of the diagnostic agent 306 via a plausible diagnosis, the state of the production system thereof from ^¬ passed to restrict the amount of the Configurations of the production service, preferably the Pla thereof ^¬ information systems at a higher level. Product Agent

For example, a product sensor is an embedded device attached to or in the product, for example, for the life of the product or the duration of manufacture or processing of the product. Preferably, the product sensor is secured only so long in or on the product, such as needs be ^¬ is, that appears especially as long as communication with the investment makes sense or is possible. The product ^¬ sensor is preferably equipped with at least one sensor for monitoring the surroundings of the autonomous product 102nd

A product agent 305 implementing the symptom providing function 308 controls the product sensor 102 and provides the measurements of the product sensor to the production control system in the form of symptoms that can be associated with system elements based on a location of the product. The symptoms are derived from features based on the feature model using a control machine, which may be implemented in the product sensor, for example. It should be noted here that the product ^sensor can have a processing unit and / or a communication unit.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic architecture of the product sensor 103 having a plurality of components and functions. A sensor module 501 is used to detect ambient values, for example vibrations and / or temperatures. For this purpose, the sensor module 501 can directly have a correspondingly suitable sensor or a connection for connecting a sensor. Measured data MD of the sensor module 501 can be transmitted over a Kom ^¬ tions interface 105th The communi ^¬ cation with the machine or system can be performed via various interfaces or media, such as WLAN, Bluetooth, RFID. The communication interface 105 may be the product agent 305 may correspond from Figure 3 with the product agent 305 as functional example ^¬ be connected. The product agent 305 is connected to an (optional) memory 502. Both the product agent 305 and the memory 502 communicate with a rule engine 503, which may be implemented as a state machine, for example. The product sensor 103 may thus also include a processing unit that includes, for example, the components 305, 503, and 502. Optionally, the communication interface 105 ^¬ part of the processing unit may be. It is also possible that the sensor module 501 integrated into the proces ^¬ processing unit or connected to this. For example, the product agent 305 may use a local shopping ^¬ times model to the measurements of its sensor module 501, for example, as to interpret a three-axis motion sensor and to determine whether at which the product sensor 103 is disposed on the product 102, , a force acts. In this regard, for example, the following symptoms (see also Fig.3) can be distinguished:

- Product moves (ProductMoving),

- Product does not move (ProductStops), - Strong (harmful) vibrations act on the Pro ^¬ product (Vibration High)

- Vibrations on the product within the permitted range

(VibrationOK).

The symptoms (preferably with their entry) transmitted to the ^¬ jenigen diagnostic agents who had asked for their transmission. Diagnostic Agent

An object of the diagnostic agent 306 is to implement the Si ^¬ tuations analysis function 309 in the context of a situational model. This is based on a knowledge-based diagnosis, which can lead to a variety of approaches.

An exemplary implementation uses a logikba ^¬ catalyzed abduction for diagnosis to allow based on incomplete information predictive diagnostics. In particular, a lot of plausible diagnoses can be determined together with the necessary assumptions and the resulting plausibility assessments. Thus, plausible diagnoses can be deduced based on the spatial limitations of the product, ie a large number of diagnoses could be excluded due to such limitations. This corresponds to a search for optimal paths along a hypergraph, where each hyperpath (corresponding to a subgraph) represents a diagnosis valid with regard to the incomplete information. In the hypergraph there is accordingly a variety of Pfa ^¬, each based on a subset of the total zuläs ^¬ sigen acceptance amount. The structure of the graph is determined by the models, by the observed and assumed symptoms, and by the set of possible diagnoses, where the size of the graph is due to the limitations of the representation used Language polynomial is in terms of the size of the situation model. The plausibility of a path depends on two facto ^¬ ren, namely

the observations she explains, and

- the assumptions that are required

whereby an at least proportionate order is introduced. Because the number of paths may be exponentially vorzugswei ^¬ se is used an incremental Anytime algorithm to determine the paths in order of decreasing plausibility one after the other, being stopped when new information arrive or the lower plausibility limit pl is achieved , The parameters of the thresholds pl _m and pl _D determine whether a short-term (automated) response is to be performed by the production services agent 304, in addition to the full set of contending

Diagnoses are provided to the maintenance agent 307 along with information on required assumptions and plausibilities. In the illustrated embodiment, a product 102 can detect increasing vibrati ^¬ onswerte on a discharging conveyor belt, while the corresponding ^¬ Component Sig nal (eg determined by a sensor on the transport ^¬ band) signals a rotating axis. An explanation for both observations requires no further assumption, because it can be directly recognized that only this transport ^¬ path of the system vibrates. Alternatively, could be taken as to ^¬ that a shared afferent conveyor belt does not run smoothly, which would allow a diagnosis that both transport paths vibrate.

Service Agent

Maintenance agents 307 facilitate user interaction as defined by the watchdog mediator function 310. Preferably, a maintenance agent 307 can offer several (for example, separate from one another) graphical user interfaces ^¬ , eg a monitoring view integrated in a command and control center of a factory or plant, and

- maintenance view can be configured in a WinCC SCADA system (SCADA: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition / Control Control and Da ^¬ tenbeschaffung; WinCC: Windows Control Center / Fens ^¬ ter-control center). From the former view, the operator may assign diagnostic agents 306 components that set thresholds and lower limits and / or select diagnoses derived by the diagnostic agent 306. In this case, the selected diagnostic may be signaled to the diagnostic agent 306, from where it is forwarded to the responsible production service agent 304.

The maintenance view, which may be located on a machine control panel, assists the operator in the process

Improving the analysis results, e.g. by highlighting relevant data, for example the assumptions made during diagnosis determination, and / or by adding measurements initiated or performed by the operator.

In the present embodiment, the operator ^¬ person could thus pretend that the other conveyor belts must not exceed vibration limits in order to reduce the risk of damage to products.

Alternatives, refinements and other advantages

The approach presented here provides a flexible and cost-effective architecture for an agent-based flexible production system that enables a service-based approach to the production, processing or processing of products, each product having at least one product sensor and being designed as a so-called smart product. can be leads. This allows an interactive diagnosis of An ^¬ position or machine can be achieved depending on the location of the product and / or acting directly on the product environment.

Automated production control can be supplemented by manual input from an operator. For this purpose, the operator can interact, for example via a suitable interface with the diagnostic agent.

The product sensors may comprise a wireless or a drahtge ^¬ Thematic communication interface or to the plant. The product sensor may be integrated in the product or attached to the product, eg detachably. The product can duktsensor a processing unit and / or a Kom ^¬ munikationseinheit have. The product sensor can provide product-specific data and / or plant-specific data and / or location-specific data. The presented approach also has the advantage that even with incomplete data decisions are possible to reduce risks for damage to the plant and / or the product. In particular, experiences of the operator can be taken into account in order to be able to make a decision with respect to a diagnosis based on only a small amount of information.

Further, to deal with missing information so that the diagnostic system draws hypothetical circuits (assumptions applies), which is then explained on the basis of additional data, for example by additional measurements, or by input of the operator, as valid or as invalid back gewie ^¬ sen. The proposed solution also has the advantage that it can be implemented with minimal effort on existing systems and thus incur only a small cost for a corresponding update of existing systems. Advantageous functional enhancements may be to optimize memory in an embedded and inferential component by forgetting facts (only for a given one)

Remain stored for a period of time) or omitted. This can be done, for example, in real-time control systems, which deliver data in a fast sequence (new or changed). Also, model-based scheduling algorithms can be integrated into the production services agents to implement improved configuration planning and distributed production planning, as well as market-based mechanisms for coordinating production services agents and product agents. Approaches to the approach can also be semi-automated or automated extractions of required models from a large number of planning-relevant information generated during investment planning. This could significantly reduce the effort of implementing a model-based approach. Another extension could be to use more expressive models and complex structures, such as groups of factories and production chains. With a hierarchical approach could serve as symptoms of ei ^¬ ne full value chain diagnoses that were intended for a factory or plant: This could be gained a lot of additional information that would be used specifically to reduce adverse effects in production.

Claims

claims

A product sensor (103) for a product (102) which can be transported, produced or processed in a system (101)

- A processing unit (104) for providing measured data (md) or derived data (d) to the system.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the product sensor

(103) is attachable to the product (102).

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the product sensor is integrated in the product or in a material carrier for the product.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing unit (104) for storing the ge ^¬ measured data or the derived data is configured.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing unit (104) or the product sensor (103) comprises a communication interface (105) on ^¬ basis of which the measured data or the data derived therefrom, are transmitted to the system (101).

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the communication interface is a wireless or a wired communication interface.

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein providing the data or the derived data satisfies real-time requirements.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein on the basis of the product sensor (103) at least one ^selection from ^¬ the following data can be determined or measured: a temperature;

a relative or absolute position of the product sensor;

a movement, acceleration or orientation of the product sensor;

- a vibration.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing unit (104) is arranged such that the measured data and / or the derived

Data can be monitored.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein based on the processing unit (104) a symptom (201) can be determined based on the measured data

(202) or the data derived therefrom (202).

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein based on the symptom (201, 203) a diagnosis (205) for the system (101) can be determined.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein based on the symptom (201, 203) a diagnosis (205) for the system (101) can be determined based on at least one Anme.

13. Product (102) with at least one product sensor (103) according to one of claims 1 to 12.

14. System (101) with a diagnostic device (110) for

Communication with at least one product sensor (103) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A method of communication between a product sensor (103) and a plant (101),

in which the product sensor (103) for a product (102) which can be transported in the system (101) produces adjustable or workable, measured data (md) can be determined,

- in which the measured data (MD) or it launched abge ^¬ (d) advertising data is transmitted to the system (101) to.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein based on the measured data or the derived data, a diagnosis of the system is performed.