Automation system with edge computing

Abstract

An automation system employing multiple automated devices can establish and utilize two-way communication independent of a network controller by generating a unique network address with respective local circuitry. The local circuitry can be incorporated into a device or physically installed on-site in the form of an attachment, which allows automated devices to be upgraded and supplemented without altering the programming of a network controller.

1 . An apparatus comprising an automated device connected to a network computing device on a single site, the automated device comprising an internal computing circuitry connected to an external computing circuitry resident in a dongle physically attached to the automated device on the single site, the external computing circuity configured to generate a unique automation network address from unique factory information collected from the automated device independent of the network computing device and internal computing circuitry. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the internal computing circuitry is incorporated in a housing of the automated device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the external computing circuitry is incorporated in a housing separate and independent of the automated device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the external computing circuitry is physically connected to a port of the automated device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the port is an Ethernet port. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the external computing circuitry is physically connected to the network computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the external computing circuitry is wirelessly connected to the automated device. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the external computing circuitry is wirelessly connected to the network computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the automated device is a sensor and the network computing device is a programmable logic controller. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the automated device is an articulating assembly and the network computing device is a programmable logic controller. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 connecting an external computing circuitry to a first automated device and a network computing device, the first automated device comprising an internal computing circuitry, the external computing circuitry, first automated device, and network computing device each positioned on a single site;   collecting at least one unique factory information from the first automated device with the external computing circuitry independent of the internal computing circuitry;   generating a unique automation system network address from the at least one unique factory information with the external computing circuitry independent of the network computing device; and   employing the unique automation system network address to conduct at least one automation task with the first automated device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the unique automation system network address is used for direct communication between two different automated devices without involvement of the network computing device or internal computing circuitry. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the unique automation system network address is used for two-way communication between the first automated device and the network computing device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one unique factory information is a serial number. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one unique factory information is an operational characteristic of the automated device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the operational characteristic is collected by executing a test sequence as directed by the external computing circuitry. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first automated device is altered by the local computing circuitry to comply with an optimization strategy generated by the external computing circuitry. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the optimization strategy is generated after polling a second automated device to collect automation information. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second automated device is alerted by the external computing circuitry to comply with the optimization strategy. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the unique automation system network address is generated and utilized for data communication automatically by the external computing circuitry without involving the network computing device or internal computing circuitry.