Artificial intelligence in SIMATIC

The future of automation

Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to play a key role in reducing the programming and engineering effort required to create automation solutions. It’s also making control logic more agile and production processes more flexible and precise – especially in industry. For example, machine-learning algorithms help systems that perform visual quality checks in production plants or image-guided robot systems react much more flexibly to unexpected situations and to quality defects because they can respond automatically during runtime. As a result, they operate much more efficiently, because expert knowledge – for example, regarding the color, consistency, or quality of a product or process – can be transmitted to automation.

Find out more about the future of automation and how it will be shaped by factors such as artificial intelligence and predictive capabilities.

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The future begins today AI makes it possible to perform automation tasks that push traditional solutions to their limits. It’s gradually establishing itself on every level of the Totally Integrated Automation portfolio – from the field to the cloud.

AI and Totally Integrated Automation

AI will be an important design feature in the future of automation. In the context of Totally Integrated Automation (TIA), scalable solutions from the field level to the controller and the edge level and all the way to the cloud will be possible with the open IoT operating system MindSphere. This means that an AI solution can be adapted to its environment and target application as needed, either at the machine or for solutions across all machines or even plants.

The first important step for integrating AI into the automation environment is the new S7-1500 TM NPU module. It’s especially appropriate for use on the field level at the machine – and wherever reliable, fast, deterministic decisions are required.

The new SIMATIC S7-1500 TM NPU module

With the new S7-1500 TM NPU (neural processing unit) module for the SIMATIC S7-1500 controller and the ET 200MP I/O system, AI is finding its way into automation with Totally Integrated Automation. The module can be seamlessly integrated into the SIMATIC automation system, this way permitting a simple and profitable combination of AI algorithms and PLC logic. This is how inexpensive applications using SIMATIC can be implemented at the machine based on artificial intelligence. The S7-1500 TM NPU module is equipped with the AI-capable Myriad™X Vision processing unit chip from Intel Movidius™ which, among other things, enables the efficient processing of neural networks.

The TM NPU can be installed both centrally behind an S7-1500 CPU and peripherally behind an ET 200MP interface module. By installing multiple modules in succession, the solution can also be scaled as needed regarding the quantity structure and the number of implementable applications.

The S7-1500 TM NPU module operates using a trained neural system on an SD card. Users can connect Gigabit Ethernet- and USB 3.1-compatible sensors like cameras and microphones to the module’s integrated interfaces. CPU data transmitted by the backplane bus can also be used as input data. The processing results then are evaluated in the CPU program.

How you can benefit from AI with the SIMATIC S7-1500 TM NPU

Greater flexibility

Thanks to AI and machine-learning algorithms, the SIMATIC S7-1500 TM NPU module makes even the handling of unknown objects easy – without resource-intensive programming.

Higher quality

Expert knowledge for fast and reliable quality checks is transferred directly to the SIMATIC S7-1500 TM NPU module thanks to the higher-level training of a neural network.

Greater efficiency

With the SIMATIC S7-1500 TM NPU module, machines can respond flexibly and automatically to situations that used to require manual intervention, which reduces downtime and increases availability.

Greater cost-effectiveness

The SIMATIC S7-1500 TM NPU module makes it possible to detect problems in production early on and avoid the cost of having to rework or even discard the product.

Rethinking automation Thanks to AI, the SIMATIC S7-1500 TM NPU module enables countless new approaches and innovative strategies in automation. What once seemed complex is suddenly surprisingly easy, and what used to be impossible is now possible. Let yourself be inspired.

Applications examples The potential applications for the SIMATIC S7-1500 TM NPU module are extremely varied. Applications in the areas of robotics, quality assurance, and condition monitoring are especially suitable – limited only by the user’s imagination.

Smart object recognition of any workpieces

The SIMATIC S7-1500 TM NPU module uses the capabilities of neural networks to recognize complex patterns. Input data is processed with the help of knowledge acquired through machine learning. This means that even unknown components and workpieces can be recognized in any location or position.

This reduces engineering time by eliminating the time-consuming process of learning the individual objects and also increases productivity by preventing waste.

The SIMATIC S7-1500 TM NPU module can be integrated directly into the PLC. This makes smart object recognition extremely economical, because no separate setup is required.

Visual quality check of products

The processing of image data in the SIMATIC S7-1500 TM NPU module’s neural network enables reliable visual detection of quality defects. Using trained algorithms, image data is compared with predefined, extremely complex quality characteristics. This eliminates unexpected errors in the ongoing process and ensures constant product quality.

The QA station creates a bottleneck in many production processes, because checking product quality is often time-consuming.

In addition, checking the quality of more complex products has often needed to be performed manually. Using the SIMATIC S7-1500 TM NPU module – which can be integrated directly into the PLC – operators can now check the quality of ever-more complex products automatically, which also means more quickly, more cost-effectively, and more reliably.

Quality checking using sensor and production data

In many production sequences, the overview and evaluation of production data, such as energy, temperature, pressure, and surface, provide a reliable basis for the early detection of quality defects.

When production data recorded by sensors is transferred from the CPU to an S7-1500 TM NPU module integrated directly into the PLC, the module can use its neural network to analyze and evaluate complex patterns in the data and, if appropriate, cause the relevant product to be rejected.

This not only speeds up the quality assurance process, it also improves its reliability.

Advancing together Artificial intelligence is opening up brand-new perspectives. Perhaps you have a practical application in mind that you’d like to implement using the S7-1500 TM NPU module. Let us help you develop it! Our AI automation experts look forward to working with customers in co-creation projects to develop new solutions based on the S7-1500 TM NPU module. Simply contact your Siemens regional sales partner and describe your idea, your desired results, and your timeframe for implementation. If you already have AI experience, all the better!

Thèmes liés

Industrial Edge

Exploit the full potential of your machine and plant data to increase competitive edge and generate new business models

MindSphere

MindSphere, Siemens industrial IoT as a service solution, enables you to command full transparency over your operations by connecting your assets – products, plants, systems, machines – to a central location where contextualized data can be collected, analyzed, visualized, and acted on.

Myriad™ X Vision Processing Unit

Autonomous, visual, real-time intelligence that combines image analysis, computer vision processing, and deep learning inference in the terminal – all on a single chip.