Patent Publication Number: US-2023141240-A1

Title: Systems and methods for coordinating insertion and/or removal of redundant input/output (i/o) components

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The disclosure generally relates to coordinating modes of operation of redundant input/output (I/O) components. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure are related to inserting and/or removing I/O components from an industrial automation system and coordinating reconfiguration of one or more of the I/O components in order to maintain communication with or control of one or more I/O devices in the industrial automation system. 
     An industrial automation system may be used to provide automated control of one or more actuators. For example, a controller of the industrial automation system may output a conditioned power signal to an actuator to control movement of the actuator. Input/output (I/O) components may facilitate communication between the controller and the actuator or other devices within the industrial automation system. In certain industrial automation systems, redundant I/O components may be utilized to maintain communication between the controller and the actuator or the other devices. However, maintenance of the redundant I/O components may require removal of a particular I/O component in a pair of redundant I/O components and insertion of a replacement I/O component. Such maintenance may disrupt the communication between the controller and the actuator or the other devices. Thus, it may be desirable to facilitate maintenance or replacement of redundant I/O components in an industrial automation system such that disruption of communication between a controller and other devices in the industrial automation system is minimized. 
     This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below. 
     In one embodiment, an input/output (I/O) system of an industrial automation system includes a terminal block, a first I/O component, and a second I/O component. The terminal block include terminals that may couple to respective I/O components. The first I/O component and the second I/O component are removably coupled to a set of terminals. The first I/O component and the second I/O component operate in a duplex mode of operation. The first I/O component may perform a first set of operations that include receiving a signal indicative of an unlocking of the first I/O component from the terminal block, generating a schedule for disengaging the first I/O component from the terminal block, transmitting the schedule to the second I/O component, and disengaging from the set of terminals based on the schedule. The second I/O component may perform a second set of operations that include receiving the schedule from the first I/O component and reconfiguring the second I/O component to operate in a single duplex (“suplex”) mode of operation. 
     In another embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a first input/output (I/O) component removably coupled to a terminal block, a signal indicative of an unlocking of the first I/O component from the terminal block; generating, by the first I/O component, a schedule for disengaging the first I/O component from the terminal block; transmitting, by the first I/O component, the schedule to a second I/O component; and disengaging, by the first I/O component, from a set of terminals associated with the terminal block based on the schedule. The method also includes reconfiguring, by the second I/O component, an operational configuration associated with the second I/O component to a single duplex (“suplex”) mode of operation based on the schedule. 
     In yet another embodiment, a non-transitory, computer-readable medium includes computer-executable instructions that, when executed, by one or more processors associated with a first input/output (I/O) component in an industrial automation system, cause the processors to perform operations. The first I/O component may operate in a single duplex (“suplex”) mode of operation. The operations include detecting a second I/O component in the industrial automation system, determining that a first hardware configuration, a first software configuration, or both, associated with the first I/O component is compatible with a second hardware configuration, a second software configuration, or both, associated with the second I/O component, and reconfiguring the first I/O component to operate in a duplex mode of operation. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic view of industrial automation system, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic view of a modular input/output (I/O) system that may be utilized within the industrial automation system of  FIG.  1   , in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG.  3    is a block diagram of a reconfiguration process associated with a pair of redundant I/O components associated with the I/O system of  FIG.  2   , in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG.  4    is a flowchart of a method for coordinating disengagement of a first redundant I/O component of the pair of redundant I/O components of  FIG.  3    and reconfiguration of a second redundant I/O component of the pair of redundant I/O components, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG.  5    is a block diagram of a reconfiguration process associated a replacement I/O component and a partner I/O component associated with the I/O system of  FIG.  2   , in accordance with an embodiment; and 
         FIG.  6    is a block diagram of a pairing procedure of the replacement I/O component and the partner I/O component of  FIG.  5   , in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. One or more specific embodiments of the present embodiments described herein will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     As mentioned above, redundant I/O components within an industrial automation system may be utilized to maintain communication with and control of one or more devices by a connection originator (e.g., a controller) in the industrial automation system. However, maintenance of the redundant I/O components may require removal of a particular I/O component in a pair of redundant I/O components and/or insertion of a replacement I/O component. Such maintenance may disrupt control of the operation of the devices by the connection originator. 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to seamlessly switching between different modes of operation associated with partner I/O channels associated with a pair of redundant I/O components in an industrial automation system in a seamless (e.g., bumpless) manner. For example, each redundant I/O component of the pair of redundant I/O components may include one or more isolated channels. Each isolated channel in a first redundant I/O component of the pair of redundant I/O components has a partner isolated channel in a second redundant I/O component of the pair of redundant I/O components. Each pair of partner isolated channels between the pair of redundant I/O components typically operate in a duplex mode of operation such that each pair of partner isolated channels coordinate performance of a particular operation to maintain communication with or control of a respective device by the connection originator in the industrial system. However, if a fault occurs on a first channel of the pair of partner isolated channels, the second channel of the pair of partner isolated channels that did not experience the fault may switch to a suplex mode of operation (e.g., a single duplex mode of operation) such that the second channel performs the particular operation without coordinating with the first channel. In this way, the second channel may take over full performance of the operation while the first channel undergoes maintenance. Additionally, because each channel in each redundant I/O component is isolated from one another, other pairs of partner isolated channels between the pair of redundant I/O components may continue to operate in the duplex mode of operation. 
     Further, maintenance of the redundant I/O component with the faulty channel (e.g., the first redundant I/O component of the pair of redundant I/O components) may require removal of the first redundant I/O component from the industrial automation system. For example, a maintenance technician may unlock the first redundant I/O component from a base (e.g., a removable terminal block) in the industrial automation system via an actuator in order to remove the first redundant I/O component. After receiving an indication that the first redundant I/O component is being removed from the base but before the first redundant I/O component has been physically removed from the base, the first redundant I/O component may initiate a reconfiguration process associated with the other pairs of partner isolated channels among the pair of redundant I/O components. In particular, the isolated channels of each pair of partner isolated channels associated with the second redundant I/O component may switch their respective modes of operation to the suplex mode of operation such that the isolated channels of the second redundant I/O component perform their respective operations without coordinating with their respective partner channels in the first redundant I/O component. In this way, the reconfiguration process may facilitate a seamless (e.g., bumpless) transition between the duplex mode of operation to the suplex mode of operation of each isolated channel of the second redundant I/O component such that any disruption in the communication with or control of devices in the industrial automation system by the connection originator is minimized when removing the first redundant I/O component from the industrial automation system. 
     As mentioned above, a maintenance technician may insert a third I/O component (e.g., a replacement I/O component) into the base (e.g., a removable terminal block) to replace the first redundant I/O component in the pair of redundant I/O components. For example, after receiving an indication that the replacement redundant I/O component is being inserted into the base, the replacement redundant I/O component may initiate a second reconfiguration process associated with each pair of partner isolated channels between the replacement redundant I/O component and the second redundant I/O component. In particular, the isolated channels of each pair of partner isolated channels between with the replacement redundant I/O component and the second redundant I/O component may switch to a duplex mode of operation such that each pair of partner isolated channels coordinate performance of a particular operation to maintain communication with or control of a respective device by the connection originator in the industrial system. In this way, the second reconfiguration process may facilitate a seamless (e.g., bumpless) transition between the suplex mode of operation of each isolated channel of the second redundant I/O component to the duplex mode of operation of each pair of partner isolated channels between the second redundant I/O component and the replacement redundant I/O component when inserting the replacement I/O component into the industrial automation system. 
     By way of introduction,  FIG.  1    is a schematic view of an industrial automation system  10 . As shown, the industrial automation system  10  includes a controller  12  (i.e., a connection originator) and an actuator  14  (e.g., a motor). The industrial automation system  10  may also include, or be coupled to, a power source  16 . The power source  16  may include a generator, a battery (or other power storage device), or an external power grid. Though the controller  12  shown in  FIG.  1    is a stand-alone controller  12 , in more complex industrial automation systems  10 , one or more controllers  12  may be grouped together with other components in a motor control center (MCC) to control multiple actuators. In the instant embodiment, the controller  12  includes a user interface  18 , such as a human machine interface (HMI), and a control system  20 , which may include a memory  22  and a processor  24 . 
     The control system  20  may be programmed (e.g., via computer readable code or instructions stored on the memory  22  and configured to be executed by the processor  24 ) to provide signals for driving the motor  14 . In certain embodiments, the control system  20  may be programmed according to a specific configuration desired for a particular application. For example, the control system  20  may be programmed to respond to external inputs, such as reference signals, alarms, command/status signals, etc. The external inputs may originate from one or more relays or other electronic devices (such as sensors  26 ). The programming of the control system  20  may be accomplished through software configuration or firmware code that may be loaded onto the internal memory  22  of the control system  20  or programmed via the user interface  18  of the controller  12 . The control system  20  may respond to a defined set of operating parameters. The settings of the various operating parameters determine the operating characteristics of the controller  12 . For example, various operating parameters may determine the speed or torque of the motor  14  or may determine how the controller  12  responds to the various external inputs (such as from sensors  26 ). As such, the operating parameters may be used to map control variables within the controller  12  or to control other devices communicatively coupled to the controller  12 . These variables may include, for example, speed presets, feedback types and values, computational gains and variables, algorithm adjustments, status and feedback variables, programmable logic controller (PLC) like control programming, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, the controller  12  may be communicatively coupled to one or more sensors  26  for detecting operating temperatures, voltages, currents, pressures, flow rates, etc. within the industrial automation system  10 . With feedback data from the sensors  26 , the control system  20  may keep detailed track of the various conditions under which the industrial automation system  10  may be operating. For example, the feedback data may include conditions such as actual motor speed, voltage, frequency, power quality, alarm conditions, etc. 
       FIG.  2    is a schematic view of a modular input/output (I/O) system  100  for the industrial automation system  10  shown in  FIG.  1   . As illustrated, the modular I/O system  100  includes a network adapter  102  that is in communication with a controller  12  (i.e., a connection originator) via a network  104  (e.g., an Ethernet/IP network or other industrial automation network) such that the network adapter  102  receives data from, transmits data to, and otherwise communicates with the controller  12 . For example, the controller  12  may be a programmable logic controller or a PLC. The network adapter  102  includes a network adapter base  106 , a network adapter component  108  (e.g., a network adapter module), a network connector  110 , and a power connector  112 . In some embodiments, the network adapter  102  may also include power conditioning circuitry  114 . The network adapter base  106  may be mounted (e.g., permanently or removably coupled) to a rail or plate  116 . The network adapter component  108  may be removably coupled to the network adapter base  106  and include communication circuitry for communication with the controller  12  via the network connector  110  and the network  104  and/or communication with other I/O banks  118  coupled to the rail or panel  116 . As such, the network adapter component  108  may be configured to manage communication within the I/O system (e.g., between the network adapter  102  and the various other I/O banks  118 ), and/or between the I/O system  100  and various other components of the industrial automation system including, for example, the controller  12 . The power connector  112  may be configured to receive power from a power source (which may or may not be the same power source  16  shown in  FIG.  1   ) that supplies power to the network adapter  102  and one or more other I/O banks  118  coupled to the rail or panel  116 . In embodiments that have power conditioning circuitry  114 , the power conditioning circuitry  114  may be configured to condition the power received from the power source  16  via the power connector  112  by amplifying the power signal, attenuating the power signal, stepping the power signal up or down, inverting the power signal, applying one or more filters to the power signal, converting a direct current (DC) power signal to alternating current (AC) power, converting an AC power signal to DC power, and so forth. 
     Each of the one or more other I/O banks  118  may include an I/O base  120 , one or more I/O components  122 ,  123  (e.g., an I/O module), and a terminal block  124  (e.g., removable terminal block or “RTB”). The I/O base  120  may also be mounted (e.g., permanently or removably coupled) to the rail or panel  116 . The other I/O banks  118  may be sequentially communicatively coupled to one another and to the network adapter  102  via a multi-contact connector  126 , forming a backplane  128 , and enabling communication with the controller  12  and one or more other I/O devices  132  via the I/O wiring  136 . The I/O components  122 ,  123  may be removably coupled to the I/O base  120  (e.g., via the terminal block  124 ), thus enabling communication between the I/O components  122 ,  123  and the controller  12  via the network adapter  102  and the backplane  128 . 
     The I/O components  122 ,  123  may be configured to perform one or more specialized industrial automation input/output functions such as DC input, DC output, AC input, AC output, analog input and/or output, resistance temperature detector (RTD) and/or thermocouple input, an output signal to control an actuator, and so forth. For example, the I/O components  122 ,  123  may facilitate communication with or control of one or more I/O devices  132  by the controller  12 . As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the I/O components  122 ,  123  may operate as a redundant pair of I/O components  122 ,  123 . For example, each I/O component  122 ,  123  may include one or more isolated channels that has a respective partner isolated channel in the other I/O component  122 ,  123 . Each pair of partner isolated channels between the pair of I/O components may operate either in a duplex mode of operation or a single duplex (i.e., “suplex”) mode of operation. In the duplex mode of operation, one or more pairs of partner isolated channels between the I/O components  122 ,  123  may coordinate to perform one or more respective specialized industrial automation input/output operations. In the suplex mode of operation, one or more isolated channels in each I/O component  122 ,  123  may perform the respective specialized industrial automation input/output operations without coordinating with a partner isolated channel. Additional details regarding the operation of the isolated channels in the I/O components  122 ,  123  are discussed herein with respect to  FIG.  3   . 
     Referring back to  FIG.  2   , the terminal blocks  124  may include cage clamps, spring clamps, push-in terminals, screw terminals, or other wiring connectors  130  configured to couple to field wires associated with a field I/O device  132  (e.g., a sensor, flow meter, switch, probe, thermocouple, RTD, encoder, actuator, and so forth) associated with a process or machine being controlled by the controller  12 . In some embodiments, the terminal block  124  may be a separate structure that is assembled and coupled to the I/O base  120 . In other embodiments, the terminal block  124  may be integral to the I/O base  120 . Different embodiments/configurations of terminal blocks  124  may be utilized, depending upon the particular configuration suited for the field device wiring connectors  130  (e.g., having different common terminals, ground connections, voltage supply terminals, etc.). The I/O banks  118  of terminal block  124  may also include a power connector  112  to receive power from a power source (which may or may not be the same power source  16  shown in  FIG.  1   ) that supplies power to the I/O bank  118  and/or the I/O devices  132  (e.g., sensors, actuators, etc.) that are communicatively coupled to the I/O bank  118 . Each installed I/O component  122 ,  123  communicates with the field device wiring connectors  130  of the same I/O base  120  to which the I/O component  122 ,  123  is physically coupled (e.g., via the terminal block  124 ). Input/output data is provided between the controller  12  and the I/O devices  132  connected to the corresponding I/O base  120  via the backplane  128 , the network adapter component  108 , and the I/O components  122 ,  123 . In some embodiments, the network adapter  102  and I/O banks  118  may be coupled to the rail or panel  116  via respective backplane switches  134 , sometimes called bus interface modules (BIMs), that facilitate electrical connections between the various components of the backplane switch  128  (e.g., the network adapter  102 , the I/O banks  118 , the rail  116 , etc.). In some embodiments, the multi-contact connector  126  and the backplane switch  128  may be distinct components. In other embodiments, the functions of the multi-contact connector  126  and the backplane switch  128  may be performed by the same component. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the backplane  128  is a circuit that sequentially couples the network adapter  102  and the adjacent I/O banks  118  in a series or a sequential manner through the connectors  126  of the backplane  128  and/or the backplane switch  134 . For example, the backplane switches  134  of the adapter  102  and each I/O bank  118  use backplane data communication protocols to establish the above-described backplane circuit  128 . 
     With the foregoing in mind,  FIG.  3    is a block diagram  200  that illustrates a reconfiguration process associated with a pair of redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  after a first redundant I/O component  122  of the pair of redundant I/O components experiences a fault. As mentioned above, the pair of redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  may facilitate communication with or control of one or more I/O devices  132  by a connection originator (e.g., the controller  12 ) in the industrial automation system  10 . For example, the first redundant I/O component  122  of the pair of redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  may include isolated channels  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216  while the second redundant I/O component  123  of the pair of redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  may include isolated channels  203 ,  205 ,  207 ,  209 ,  211 ,  213 ,  215 ,  217 . Although  FIG.  3    illustrates that each redundant I/O component  122 ,  123  includes eight isolated channels, it should be understood that, in other embodiments, each redundant I/O component  122 ,  123  may have any suitable number of isolated channels. In any case, each isolated channel  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  26  in the first redundant I/O component  122  has a partner isolated channel  203 ,  205 ,  207 ,  209 ,  211 ,  213 ,  215 ,  217  in the second redundant I/O component  123 . As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , for example, isolated channel  202  of the first redundant I/O component  122  and isolated channel  203  of the second redundant I/O component  123  are partner isolated channels, isolated channel  204  of the first redundant I/O component  122  and isolated channel  205  of the second redundant I/O component  123  are partner isolated channels, and so on and so forth. 
     As illustrated in box  200 A of  FIG.  3   , each pair of partner isolated channels (e.g.,  202  and  203 ) between the first redundant I/O component  122  and the second redundant I/O component  123  may operate under a duplex mode of operation to perform a specialized industrial automation input/output operation. Box  200 A may correspond to a “normal” state of the pair of redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  in the industrial automation system  10 . For instance, the pair of redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  may operate under a “normal” state when none of the isolated channels (e.g.,  202 ,  203 ) of the pair of redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  have experienced a fault. 
     In certain embodiments, under the duplex mode of operation, the controller  12  may transmit a command to an I/O device  132  in the industrial automation system  10  via the network adapter  102  and the redundant I/O components  122 ,  123 . In particular, the network adapter  102  may receive the command from the controller  12  and relay the command to both redundant I/O components  122 ,  123 . After each redundant I/O component  122 ,  123  receives a respective command from the network adapter  102 , a pair of partner isolated channels (e.g.,  202 ,  203 ) between the redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  may coordinate operation to perform a specialized industrial automation input/output operation that facilitates performance of the command by the I/O device  132 . For instance, each partner isolated channel (e.g.,  202 ,  203 ) may transmit an output signal to the I/O device  132  indicative of the command. 
     Additionally, or alternatively, the pair of partner isolated channels (e.g.,  202 ,  203 ) between the redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  may communicate input data (e.g., sensor data) from the I/O device  132  to the controller  12  via the network adapter  102 . For example, each partner isolated channels (e.g.,  202 ,  203 ) may receive (e.g., listen for) input data from the I/O device  132  and communicate with each other to compare corresponding values within the received input data received by each partner isolated channel (e.g.,  202 ,  203 ). After the pair of partner isolated channels (e.g.,  202 ,  203 ) agree on a value to send to the network adapter  102 , each partner isolated channel (e.g.,  202 ,  203 ) of the redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  transmits a signal to the network adapter  102  indicative of the agreed upon value. The network adapter  102  may then transmit a signal indicative of the received value to the controller  12 . 
     As mentioned above, during operation of each pair of partner isolated channels (e.g.,  202 ,  203 ) between the redundant I/O components  122 ,  123 , a particular isolated channel (e.g.,  206 ) may experience a fault or otherwise becomes disengaged. For example, an isolated channel may experience a fault due to loss of power, an overload of power, a short in a circuit, a firmware error, or the like. In certain embodiments, the isolated channel may become disengaged if the isolated channel does not have a configuration or the isolated channel has a conflicting configuration with the configuration of its partner isolated channel. As illustrated in box  200 B of  FIG.  3   , in response to the fault experienced by the isolated channel  206  of the redundant I/O component  122 , the partner isolated channel  207  in the redundant I/O component  123  may switch to a suplex mode of operation such that the isolated channel  207  in the redundant I/O component performs a specialized industrial automation input/output operation without coordinating with the isolated channel  206  that experienced the fault. In certain embodiments, the isolated channel  207  in the redundant I/O component  123  may receive a signal indicative of the fault in the isolated channel  206  from the isolated channel  206  and/or the redundant I/O component  122 . After receiving the signal, the isolated channel  207  may reconfigure itself to function in the suplex mode of operation. As mentioned above, the specialized industrial automation input/output operation may facilitate communication between or control of a I/O device (e.g.,  132 ) by the controller  12 . Additionally, because each partner isolated channel (e.g.,  202  and  206 ,  203  and  207 ) in each redundant I/O component  122 ,  123  is isolated from one another, the other pairs of isolated channels between the pair of redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  may continue to operate in the duplex mode of operation. 
     Thereafter, a maintenance technician may remove the redundant I/O component  122  with the faulty isolated channel  206  during maintenance of the redundant I/O component  122 . As illustrated in box  200 C of  FIG.  3   , each redundant I/O component  122 ,  123  may include an actuator  218 ,  219  that allows a maintenance technician to unlock the corresponding redundant I/O component  122 ,  123  from the terminal block  124  or lock the corresponding redundant I/O component  122 ,  123  into the terminal block  124 . In certain embodiments, the maintenance technician may rotate the actuator  218 ,  219  one-quarter turn to lock or unlock the corresponding redundant I/O component  122 ,  123  with respect to the terminal block  124 . However, it should be noted that, in other embodiments, any other suitable locking mechanism may be utilized to secure the redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  to the terminal block  124 . For example, in some embodiments, a locking tab may be utilized to allow a redundant I/O component  122 ,  123  to be snap fit to the terminal block  124  or released from the terminal block  124 after disengagement of the locking tab. 
     In any case, as the maintenance technician begins to unlock the redundant I/O component  122  with the fault channel  206  from the terminal block  124 , the redundant I/O component  122  may receive a signal indicative of the redundant I/O component being unlocked from the actuator  218 . In some embodiments, the actuator  218  may be communicatively coupled to a sensor that continuously or intermittently generates a signal indicative of whether the actuator  218  is a locked or unlocked position. After receiving the signal indicative of the redundant I/O component  122  being unlocked from the actuator  218 , the redundant I/O component  122  may trigger a reconfiguration process to switch the remaining isolated channels (e.g.,  203 ,  205 ,  209 ,  211 ,  213 ,  215 ,  217 ) of the redundant I/O component  123  into the suplex mode of operation before the redundant I/O component  122  is removed from the terminal block  124 . 
     In certain embodiments, under the suplex mode of operation, the controller  12  may transmit a command to an I/O device in the industrial automation system  10  via the network adapter  102  and the redundant I/O component  123 . In particular, after receiving the command from the controller  12 , the network adapter  102  may relay the command to the redundant I/O component  122  with the faulty channel  206  and the redundant I/O component  123 . After the redundant I/O component  123  receives the command from the network adapter  102 , an isolated channel (e.g.,  207 ) of the redundant I/O component  123  may perform a specialized industrial automation input/output operation that facilitates performance of the command by the I/O device  132 . Although the redundant I/O component  122  with the faulty channel  206  receives the command from the network adapter  102 , the faulty channel (e.g.,  206 ) of the redundant I/O component  122  does not coordinate performance of the specialized industrial automation input/output operation with the isolated channel (e.g.,  207 ) of the redundant I/O component  123  because the isolated channel (e.g.,  207 ) is operating in the suplex mode of operation. That is, the redundant I/O component  122  may still receive commands from the network adapter  102  to perform specialized industrial automation input/output operations via the faulty channel  206  but the redundant I/O component  122  does not perform the specialized industrial automation input/output operations. 
     Additionally, or alternatively, the isolated channel (e.g.,  207 ) of the redundant I/O components  123  may communicate input data (e.g., sensor data) from the I/O device  132  to the controller  12  via the network adapter  102 . For example, the isolated channel (e.g.,  207 ) may receive (e.g., listen for) input data from the I/O device  132  and transmit a signal indicative of one or more values of the input data to the network adapter  102  without communicating with the redundant I/O component  122  with the faulty channel  206 . The network adapter  102  may then transmit a signal indicative of the received values to the controller  12 . 
     After the reconfiguration process of the redundant I/O component  123  completes, the redundant I/O component  122  with the faulty channel  206  may disengage from the terminal block  124 . For example, the redundant I/O component  122  may physically decouple from one or more terminals associated with the terminal block  124 such that the redundant I/O component  122  is no longer communicating with the network adapter  102  or a corresponding I/O device  132 . In this way, the reconfiguration process may facilitate a seamless (e.g., bumpless) transition between the duplex mode of operation by each pair of partner isolated channels (e.g.,  202 ,  203 ) between the pair of redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  to the suplex mode of operation by each isolated channel (e.g.,  203 ) in the redundant I/O component  123  not being removed by the technician. As referred to herein, a “bumpless” transition refers to the duration of the reconfiguration process being less than five milliseconds (ms) or the controller  12  not experiencing a loss of communication with the I/O device  132 . Additional details regarding the reconfiguration process are described below with respect to  FIG.  4   . Thereafter, the maintenance technician may remove the redundant I/O component  122  with the faulty channel  206  after the reconfiguration process is complete. As illustrated in box  200 D of  FIG.  3   , the redundant I/O component  122  with the faulty channel  206  has been removed from the terminal block  124 , and the redundant I/O component  123  (e.g., each isolated channel of the redundant I/O component  123 ) is operating in the suplex mode of operation. 
     With the foregoing in mind,  FIG.  4    illustrates a flowchart of a method  250  for coordinating disengagement of the redundant I/O component  123  that has the faulty channel  206  and reconfiguration of one or more isolated channels (e.g.,  203 ) of the redundant I/O component  123  from a duplex mode of operation to a suplex mode of operation. For example, the method  250  may be performed by the pair of redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  after the redundant I/O component  122  with the faulty channel  206  has received a signal indicative of its removal from the terminal block  124 but before the redundant I/O component  122  has physically been removed from the terminal block  124 . In this way, the method  250  facilitates a seamless or bumpless transition in the operation of the pair of redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  from the duplex mode of operation to the suplex mode of operation (e.g., by the redundant I/O component  123 ). Although the following description of the method  250  is described in a particular order, it should be noted that the method  250  is not limited to the depicted order, and instead, the method  250  may be performed in any suitable order. Moreover, although certain blocks of the method  250  are described as being performed by the redundant I/O component  122 , it should be noted that such steps may be performed by the redundant I/O component  123  if the redundant I/O component  123  has one or more faulty channels and/or is being removed from the terminal block  124 . Similarly, although certain blocks of the method  250  are described as being performed by the redundant I/O component  123 , it should be noted that such steps may be performed by the redundant I/O component  122  if the redundant I/O component  123  has one or more faulty channels and/or is being removed from the terminal block  124 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  4   , at block  252 , the redundant I/O component  122  with the faulty channel  206  may receive a signal indicative of the redundant I/O component  122  being unlocked from the terminal block  124 . In certain embodiments, a maintenance technician may turn an actuator  218  associated with the redundant I/O component  122  from a locked position (e.g., the position of actuator  219  in  FIG.  3   ) to an unlocked position (e.g., the position of actuator  218  in  FIG.  3   ). A sensor associated with the actuator  218  may transmit the signal indicative of the redundant I/O component  122  being unlocked from the terminal block  124 to the redundant I/O component  122 . For instance, the redundant I/O component  122  may include a sensor that detects the position of the actuator  218 , the terminal block  124 may include a sensor that detects the position of the actuator  218 , or both. After receiving the signal indicative of the redundant I/O component  122  being unlocked from the terminal block  124 , at block  254 , the redundant I/O component  122  may generate a schedule for completing a disengagement procedure that disengages or decouples the redundant I/O component  122  from one or more terminals associated with the terminal block  124 . For example, the redundant I/O component  122  may select a particular time or a particular period of time in which to begin the disengagement procedure. The redundant I/O component  122  may then transmit or push the schedule for the disengagement procedure to the redundant I/O component  123  without the faulty channel  206 . 
     After receiving the schedule for the disengagement procedure, at block  256 , the redundant I/O component  123  may determine whether the schedule for the disengagement procedure does not conflict with its own schedule for performing one or more operations. For instance, the redundant I/O component  123  may have one or more diagnostic operations scheduled to be performed at a particular time. If the redundant I/O component  123  determines that the schedule for the disengagement procedure does not conflict with its own schedule for performing one or more operations, the redundant I/O component  123  may accept the received schedule for the disengagement procedure at block  258 . For example, the redundant I/O component  123  may transmit a signal or a message indicative of the acceptance to the redundant I/O component  122 . However, if the redundant I/O component  123  determines that the schedule for the disengagement procedure conflicts with its own schedule for performing one or more operations, the redundant I/O component  123  may generate a new schedule for completing the disengagement procedure and transmit the new schedule to the redundant I/O component  122  at block  260 . At block  262 , after receiving the new schedule from the redundant I/O component  123 , the redundant I/O component  122  may accept the new schedule. For example, the redundant I/O component  122  may transmit a signal or a message indicative of the acceptance to the redundant I/O component  123 . 
     After the redundant I/O component  122  accepts the schedule for disengagement at block  262  or the redundant I/O component  123  accepts the schedule for disengagement at block  258 , the pair of redundant I/O components  122 ,  123  may proceed to perform the disengagement procedure associated with the redundant I/O component  122  and the reconfiguration procedure associated with the redundant I/O component  123  at block  264 . That is, at the scheduled time, the redundant I/O component  122  that has been unlocked from the terminal block  124 may perform the disengagement procedure and the redundant I/O component  123  may perform a reconfiguration procedure to switch each isolated channel of the redundant I/O component  123  from a duplex mode of operation to a suplex mode of operation. 
     In certain embodiments, the reconfiguration procedure associated with the redundant I/O component  123  may be performed before the disengagement procedure associated with the redundant I/O component  122 . For example, after each isolated channel (e.g.,  203 ) of the redundant I/O component  122  switches to the suplex mode of operation, the redundant I/O component  123  may transmit state or configuration data associated with the redundant I/O component  123  to the redundant I/O component  122 . In certain embodiments, the state or configuration data may include Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) state data. Based on the received state or configuration data, the redundant I/O component  122  may determine that the redundant I/O component  122  has taken over control of performing any specialized industrial automation input/output operations to facilitate communication with or control of the I/O device  132 . The redundant I/O component  122  may then disengage or decouple from one or more terminals associated with the terminal block  124 . After the redundant I/O component  122  has disengaged from the terminals, the redundant I/O component  122  may transmit state or configuration data associated with the redundant I/O component  122  to the redundant I/O component  123 . In certain embodiments, the state or configuration data may include Highway HART state data. The state or configuration data may be utilized by the redundant I/O component  123  to perform one or more specialized industrial automation input/output operations. 
     After the disengagement procedure associated with the redundant I/O component  122  and the reconfiguration procedure associated with the redundant I/O component  123  has completed at block  264 , the redundant I/O component  122  may provide an indication that the redundant I/O component  122  may be removed from the terminal block  124 . In certain embodiments, the redundant I/O component  122  may display an indication via a display screen that the redundant I/O component  122  may be removed or cause a light or any other suitable indicator associated with the redundant I/O component  122  to indicate that the redundant I/O component  122  may be removed. In any case, thereafter, the maintenance technician may remove the redundant I/O component  122  from the terminal block  1241 eaving the redundant I/O component  123  to operate under the suplex mode of operation. 
     As mentioned above, the maintenance technician may replace the redundant I/O component  122  that has a faulty channel  206  with a replacement I/O component. For example, the maintenance technician may insert the replacement I/O component into the terminal block  124  to pair the replacement component I/O component with the redundant I/O component  123 . With the forgoing in mind,  FIG.  5    is a block diagram  300  that illustrates a reconfiguration process associated with the redundant I/O component  123  and a replacement I/O component  301  that has been inserted into the terminal block  124 . As illustrated in box  300 A of  FIG.  5   , the redundant I/O component  123  is operating under a suplex mode of operation to perform one or more specialized industrial automation input/output operations. That is, each isolated channel  203 ,  205 ,  207 ,  209 ,  211 ,  213 ,  215 ,  217  in the redundant I/O component  123  is operating under the suplex mode of operation. The replacement I/O component  301  may be inserted into the terminal block  124 such that each isolated channel  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310 ,  312 ,  314 ,  316  of the replacement I/O component  301  is disengaged from the terminals of the terminal block  124 . 
     After the replacement I/O component  301  has been inserted into the terminal block  124 , the replacement I/O component  301  and the redundant I/O component  123  may perform a pairing process. For example, the replacement I/O component  301  and the redundant I/O component  123  may perform the pairing process after the maintenance technician has locked the replacement I/O component  301  into the terminal block  124 . In certain embodiments, the maintenance technician may rotate an actuator  318  associated with the replacement I/O component  301  one-quarter turn to lock or unlock the replacement I/O component  301  with respect to the terminal block  124 . However, it should be noted that, in other embodiments, any other suitable locking mechanism may be utilized to secure the replacement I/O component  301  to the terminal block  124 . Additional details with regard to the pairing process performed by the replacement I/O component  301  and the redundant I/O component  123  are described below with respect to  FIG.  6   . 
     After the replacement I/O component  301  and the redundant I/O component  123  have been paired, the replacement I/O component  301  and the redundant I/O component  123  may switch to the duplex mode of operation to coordinate the performance of one or more specialized industrial automation input/output operations. As illustrated in box  300 B in  FIG.  5   , each isolated channel  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310 ,  312 ,  314 ,  316  in the replacement I/O component  301  and each isolated channel  203 ,  205 ,  207 ,  209 ,  211 ,  213 ,  215 ,  217  in the redundant I/O component  123  is operating under the duplex mode of operation. That is, each pair of isolated channels between the replacement I/O component  301  and the redundant I/O component  123  may coordinate operation to perform one or more specialized industrial automation input/output operations to facilitate communication between or control of the I/O device  132  by the controller  12 . 
     With the foregoing in mind,  FIG.  6    illustrates a flowchart of a method  350  for pairing the replacement I/O component  301  with the redundant I/O component  123  after the replacement I/O component  301  has been inserted into the terminal block  124 . Although the following description of the method  350  is described in a particular order, it should be noted that the method  350  is not limited to the depicted order, and instead, the method  350  may be performed in any suitable order. Referring now to  FIG.  6   , at block  352 , the replacement I/O component  301  may detect the presence of the redundant I/O component  123  and/or the redundant I/O component  123  may detect the presence of the replacement I/O component  301 . In certain embodiments, the replacement I/O component  301  may broadcast a signal indicative of the presence of the replacement I/O component  301  in the terminal block  124  in an area surrounding the replacement I/O component  301 , the redundant I/O component  123  may broadcast a signal indicative of the presence of the redundant I/O component  123  in an area surrounding the redundant I/O component  123 , or both. For example, each I/O component  123 ,  301  may broadcast the respective signals at a frequency greater than a scan rate of the I/O components  123 ,  301  or any other suitable rate. 
     After the replacement I/O component  301  detects the presence of the redundant I/O component  123  and/or the redundant I/O component  123  detects the replacement component  301  at block  352 , the replacement I/O component  301  may verify hardware and software compatibility with the redundant I/O component  123  and/or the redundant I/O component  123  may verify hardware and software compatibility with the replacement I/O component  301 . If the redundant I/O component  123  determines that the replacement I/O component  301  is not hardware and/or software compatible and/or the replacement I/O component  301  determines that the redundant I/O component  123  is not hardware and/or software compatible, at block  356 , the replacement I/O component  301  may provide an indication of the hardware and/or software incompatibility. For example, the replacement I/O component  301  may provide the indication via a display, an LED, or the like. 
     However, if the redundant I/O component  123  determines that the replacement I/O component  301  is hardware and/or software compatible and/or the replacement I/O component  301  determines that the redundant I/O component  123  is hardware and/or software compatible, at block  358 , the replacement I/O component  301  may receive a connection request from the controller  12  (i.e., the connection originator). For instance, the controller  12  may attempt to establish a connection with the replacement I/O component  301  after receiving an indication of the presence of the replacement I/O component  301  (e.g., via the backplane  128 ). For example, the indication may include an identifier of the replacement I/O component  301 , an indication of the hardware and/or software compatibility of the replacement I/O component  301 , or any other suitable information. The connection request transmitted by the controller  12  may include configuration information associated with the replacement I/O component  301  to the replacement I/O component  301 . For example, the configuration information may include a mode of operation (e.g., suplex mode or duplex mode) associated with the replacement I/O component  301  and/or an identifier associated with a partner I/O component (e.g., redundant I/O component  123 ) for the replacement I/O component  301 . 
     After receiving the connection request from the controller  12 , at block  360 , the replacement I/O component  301  may determine whether the replacement I/O component  301  may accept the connection to the controller  12  based on the received configuration information. For example, if the configuration information is indicative of the duplex mode of operation and a partner I/O component has been detected (e.g., at block  352 ), the replacement I/O component  301  may accept the connection to the controller  12  after verifying with the partner I/O component (e.g., the redundant I/O component  123 ) that the duplex configuration is correct and matches the configuration of the partner I/O component, determining whether the replacement I/O component  301  is the primary component or the secondary component in the potential pair of redundant I/O components, performing a time synchronization with the partner I/O component, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, if the configuration information is indicative of the duplex mode of operation but a partner I/O component was not detected (e.g., at block  352 ), the replacement I/O component  301  may accept the connection to the controller  12  after verifying that the duplex mode of operation is the correct configuration for the replacement I/O component  301 . For instance, the replacement PO component  301  may transmit a request to the controller  12  to confirm the designation of the duplex mode of operation. If the controller  12  confirms that the designation of the duplex mode of operation is valid, the replacement I/O component  301  may accept the connection to the controller  12 . If the controller  12  does not confirm that the designation of the duplex mode of operation is valid, the replacement I/O component  301  may not accept the connection to the controller  12  and may enter a “standby” or a “rest” mode (e.g, at block  362 ). Alternatively, if (1) the configuration information is indicative of the duplex configuration and the partner I/O component (e.g., redundant I/O component  123 ) was determined to have an incompatible hardware and/or software configuration or (2) the configuration information is indicative of the suplex configuration, the replacement I/O component  301  may accept the connection to the controller after verifying the absence of conflicts with neighboring I/O components, verifying that the suplex configuration is valid, or both. However, if one or more of the conditions described above for accepting the connection to the controller  12  are not satisfied, the replacement I/O component  301  may not accept the connection to the controller  12  and may enter a “standby” or a “rest” mode (e.g, at block  362 ). 
     After accepting the connection to the controller  12 , at block  364 , the replacement I/O component  301  may proceed to pair with the partner I/O component (e.g., the redundant I/O component  123 ) if the configuration information associated with the replacement I/O component  301  is indicative of the duplex mode of operation. In particular, the replacement I/O component  301  and the redundant I/O component  123  may negotiate a suitable time for each pair of isolated channels between the replacement I/O component  301  and the redundant I/O component  123  to switch to the duplex mode of operation. In certain embodiments, the replacement I/O component  301  may generate a schedule that defines a particular time or a particular time period for performing the pairing procedure between the replacement I/O component  301  and the redundant I/O component  123  and transmits the schedule to the redundant I/O component  123 . After receiving the schedule from the replacement I/O component  301 , the redundant I/O component  123  may determine whether the schedule for the pairing procedure does not conflict with its own schedule for performing one or more operations. If the redundant I/O component  123  determines that the schedule for the pairing procedure does not conflict with its own schedule for performing one or more operations, the redundant I/O component  123  may accept the received schedule for the pairing procedure. For example, the redundant I/O component  123  may transmit a signal or a message indicative of the acceptance to the replacement I/O component  301 . However, if the redundant I/O component  123  determines that the pairing procedure conflicts with its own schedule for performing one or more operations, the redundant I/O component  123  may generate a new schedule for completing the pairing procedure and transmit the new schedule to the replacement I/O component  301 . After receiving the new schedule from the redundant I/O component  123 , the replacement I/O component  301  may accept the new schedule. For example, the replacement I/O component  301  may transmit a signal or a message indicative of the acceptance to the redundant I/O component  123 . 
     After the redundant I/O component  123  or the replacement I/O component  301  accepts the schedule for pairing, the pair of redundant I/O components  123 ,  301  may proceed to perform the pairing procedure at the scheduled time. That is, at the scheduled time, the replacement I/O component  301  may engage or couple one or more terminals associated with the terminal block  124 . Additionally, each pair of isolated channels between the redundant I/O component  123  and the replacement I/O component  301  may switch to a duplex mode of operation such that each pair of isolated channels may coordinate performance of a specialized industrial automation input/output operation to facilitate communication with or control of the I/O device  132  by the controller  12 . 
     The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely theoretical. Further, if any claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as “means for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ” or “step for [perform]ing [a function]. . . ”, it is intended that such elements are to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claims containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). 
     While only certain features of the disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.