ABB Files Patent for Flow Computer RTU with Modular Software Architecture to Enhance Industrial Oper
Time:2026-05-11 Browse: 0
According to the China National Intellectual Property Administration, ABB Switzerland Ltd. has filed a patent application titled “Flow Computer Remote Terminal Unit with Modular Software Architecture” (Publication No. CN121681037A), with a filing date of September 2025.
Overview of the Patent
The disclosed invention relates to a flow computer remote terminal unit (RTU) featuring a modular software architecture. The system aims to enhance the efficiency, flexibility, and management of industrial operations. Key aspects include:
The RTU management system executes multiple application instances, each responsible for managing one or more industrial operations at a facility.
An enabling framework within the RTU receives information from one or more input devices associated with industrial operations.
The enabling framework separately partitions memory for each application instance, ensuring modularity and preventing interference among applications.
A scheduler within the enabling framework determines which application instances utilize the input device information and provides the data accordingly.
This modular design allows the RTU to efficiently manage diverse industrial operations while maintaining scalability, robustness, and streamlined data processing.
Significance for Industrial Automation
The patent represents a step forward in intelligent industrial control systems, offering:
Enhanced operational efficiency through modular software management
Scalable architecture to support multiple simultaneous applications
Improved data integrity and reliability by separating application memory spaces
By integrating modular software into flow computer RTUs, ABB aims to provide industrial facilities with more flexible, high-performance solutions for automated operation and monitoring.
