… and other ponderings in 11th-dimensional space

Yuan, Barajas et al., US Patent 7,996,113 Granted

Aug 9th, 2011 | By | Category: Patents

United States Patent 7,996,113
Yuan, Barajas, et al. August 9, 2011

Methods of integrating real and virtual world using virtual sensor/actuator.


Abstract

An integrated real and virtual manufacturing automation system that employs a programmable logic controller that controls part flow between a real machine in the real world part of the system and a virtual machine in the virtual world part of the system using virtually coupled sensors and actuators. A real world sensor senses the position of the real world machine and a real world actuator actuates the real world machine. Likewise, a virtual world sensor senses the position of the virtual world machine and a virtual world actuator actuates the virtual world machine. An interface device transfers signals between the virtual world part of the system and the real world part of the system, and an input/output device processes signals sent to the programmable logic controller and signals sent from the programmable logic controller.


Inventors: Yuan; Chengyin (Rochester Hills, MI), Gu; Fangming (Rochester Hills, MI), Biller; Stephan R. (Birmingham, MI)Barajas; Leandro G. (Troy, MI)
Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (Detroit, MI)
Appl. No.: 12/237,944
Filed: September 25, 2008

A method for integrating a real and virtual manufacturing automation system where a part appears to a programmable logic controller to flow between a virtual world domain of the system and a real world domain of the system, said method comprising: providing a first real world machine in the real world domain of the system; providing a first primary real world sensor in the real world domain of the system for sensing a position of the first real world machine; providing a primary real world actuator in the real world domain of the system for actuating the first real world machine; providing a virtual world machine in the virtual world domain of the system; providing a primary virtual world sensor in the virtual world domain of the system for sensing the position of the virtual world machine; providing a primary virtual world actuator in the virtual world domain of the system for actuating the virtual world machine; providing an interface device for transferring signals between the virtual world domain of the system and the real world domain of the system; providing a programmable logic controller that controls the actuators ; and providing an input/output (I/O) device that processes signals sent to the programmable logic controller from the sensors and signals sent from the programmable logic controller to the actuators, said programmable logic controller controlling the operation of the actuators, so as to provide virtual coupling between sensors and actuators in the virtual world domain of the system and the real world domain of the system for both a real and a virtual part.

 

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