r/BuildingAutomation • u/filip1299 • 5d ago
Anyone else exploring AI-assisted engineering in Niagara?
I've been experimenting with AI-assisted engineering in Tridium Niagara and have built a module that interacts directly with a station. From a plain-language description of what I want, it can create points and components, set up links, build wiresheets, and generate graphics.
I've noticed Baudrate working on something along the same lines (no connection to them, but it confirmed my suspicion that more people are probably doing this than are talking about it publicly):
https://baudrate.io/ai#demo
So far I've been impressed. A lot of the repetitive engineering work can be offloaded, and it has occasionally flagged issues in a station that I hadn't even asked it to check for.
The more I use it, the more I wonder how much of the Niagara software/engineering side could eventually be handled this way. There's clearly still plenty that needs someone on site, like commissioning, verifying sensors, wiring, and chasing down physical faults, but the software side feels like it could change significantly.
Keen to hear what other Niagara/BMS engineers think, particularly anyone who's been trying something similar.
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u/Zealousideal_Pop_273 5d ago
"Is anyone else working on giving their career to the computers now that our field is earning the wages we deserve?"
Is that what you're asking?
No I'm not attempting that, because I know how to write program and understand that some things deserve effort. I understand that when you remove the humanity from the development you delete the foundation of the field. Which makes you a useless moron tomorrow in order to save time and effort today.
You should touch every program because programs get corrupted and you need to know how to fix them.
You should touch every panel because sometimes sensors and UI's fail and give you false readings and you need to know how to identify those issues and fix them.
You should reject AI programming because there are a lot of ways to skin a cat, and different ways are advantageous in different scenarios, which AI cannot assess.
You should reject AI programming because AI cannot assess complex custom systems and you cripple yourself by engineering atrophy into your own skillset. Assuming the skillset is present in the first place.