Control Engineering articles from October 2007

Control Engineering archives from October 2007

Getting Control of Electric Power.
October 1, 2007... C.G. Masi, Control Engineering Understand the basics of how to monitor and analyze electric power quality and how to remediate ailing distribution systems. There is a temptation for control engineers to simply assume that facilities...

Sensing at the Nano-Level.
October 1, 2007... Jeanine Katzel for Control Engineering Development of sensors that harness the power of nanotechnology is progressing, but hurdles remain to manufacturing and commercializing products for general application. At least once in every...

Automatic parking systems ease use for customers, owners.
October 1, 2007... Eyal Saban, Unitronics Automated parking structures are popping up all over. Three are currently operating in the U.S.-in Washington, DC, New York City, and Hoboken, NJ-but there are many more in Europe and Asia. The user experience is...

Quick I/O connections.
October 1, 2007... Helge Hornis, Pepperl+Fuchs Faster I/O (input/output) wiring installation times are a requirement for users, machine builders, and integrators to stay competitive. Several methods help accomplish this; applying multiple solutions can offer...

Synchronized Motion Relies on Special Controls.
October 1, 2007... Frank J. Bartos, P.E., Control Engineering To satisfy synchronized multi-axis motion in robotic systems, printing machines and elsewhere, a higher breed of control is required. Fast network protocols are available to implement the needs of...

Simulation made easier with an Ethernet infrastructure.
October 1, 2007... Renee Robbins, Control Engineering Remember that last automation project? Remember the extended startup because of automation system software errors? The operator mistakes that caused reworked projects? The unscheduled shutdown from...

Costly Western assumptions.
October 1, 2007... Mia Doucet, Asia Mastery Do you think your Western business practices work in any culture? My ongoing research into Asian culture proves that we are dead wrong in this belief, meaning that many Western companies are dead wrong in their...

Wireless Helps Avoid Collisions.(contract of Andritz and ProSoft Technology Inc.)
October 1, 2007... Robert Dunlop, Andritz and Adrienne Lutovsky, ProSoft Technology Andritz Inc. uses high-speed Ethernet radios to create a robust anti-collision network for three different dual-portal crane projects. With sophisticated processes...

Safety Improves Robot Efficiency.
October 1, 2007... C.G. Masi, Control Engineering A safety risk assessment helped a robotic paint sprayer manufacturer develop a control system that provides appropriate safety protection with minimal impact on machine performance. A spirit of innovation...

What's Driving the Industrial Marketplace?
October 1, 2007... Sumiya Donna Imam, Freescale Semiconductor Whether on the factory floor or an offshore oil rig, there is increasing need for additional connectivity and advanced functionality. Sophisticated real-time software systems and powerful...

Analog Encoders Reduce Pre-alignment Time.
October 1, 2007... C.G. Masi, Control Engineering Advanced motion control technology provides higher precision to eliminate process steps in the semiconductor industry. How do you double semiconductor wafer throughput, decrease wafer pre-alignment time...

Equipment - what's in a name?
October 1, 2007... Dennis Brandl The 'information' part of manufacturing IT is as important as the 'technology' part. One important element of managed information is the correct identification of the equipment used for manufacturing. Equipment...

IP help, family advantages.(Open DeviceNet Vendors Association)(internet protocol)
October 1, 2007... Mark T. Hoske, editor-in-chief It's said that a good friend is even better than family since you choose friends. I thankfully saw family and other friends in a recent trip to Denver-cousins and a grade school friend that I hadn't seen in...

Introductions are in order...
October 1, 2007... Marc A. Moschetto, editorial director The dream job : everyone is looking for it, precious few are blessed to have it and, as far as I'm concerned, I just landed it. The October issue marks my first month on the job as editorial director...

Efficiency, growth, effectiveness at MESA's Plant2Enterprise conference.(Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association International )(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... By Staff The convergence of production and business data, actionable metrics and continuous improvement processes were again hot topics for automation vendors, end user and analysts at this year's MESA's annual Plant2Enterprise Conference,...

Emerson, Cisco collaborate on wireless applications.(Emerson Process Management Inc.)(Cisco Systems Inc.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... By Staff Collaboration between Emerson Process Management and Cisco could lead to more rapid development of open-standard solutions for wireless process and plant management applications that install easily and operate reliably in process...

News Briefs.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Wireless *4G technology* definitions, products on horizon Staff The official definition of wireless 4G technology is not scheduled until the 2008-2009 timeframe when the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)...

Wireless technology progress: WirelessHART approved; ISA-100 work continues.
October 1, 2007... By Staff The first open wireless communication standard for process measurement and control was approved and released Sept. 7 as part of the HART 7 standard, according to the HART Communication Foundation (HCF), as separate work on the...

Web-based sizing and selection tool helps optimize linear motion solutions.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Danaher Motion introduced a free Web-based linear-motion-system sizing and selection tool that enables OEM and factory automation users to optimize machine design and operation in five simple steps. The tool, called Linear...

Control Engineering: Robbins selects senior editor role; Moschetto named editorial director.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Marc Moschetto assumed the editorial director position at Control Engineering the week of Sept. 10. He was hired after Renee Robbins, who came on as editorial director in March 2006, chose to move into the role of senior editor....

More automation interaction with 2nd tour vehicle.
October 1, 2007... By Staff More people can learn about automation and electrical interconnect products now that Wago Corp. has added a second vehicle to its 'Innovation in Automation Tour' mobile marketing program. The program is designed to reach engineers...

Nearly $1 billion transaction: ABB sells Lummus Global oil & gas process technologies.
October 1, 2007... By Staff ABB agreed to sell its Lummus Global business to Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. (CB&I) for $950 million, subject to regulatory and CB&I shareholder approvals. The Netherlands-based CB&I will purchase the Lummus Global business,...

InTouch 10.0: 200 new features, automatic porting to MS Vista.(microsoft vista)(Wonderware Corp.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... By Staff At corporate headquarters in Lake Forest, CA, Wonderware engineers and marketing people gathered to present what they called their 'most significant launch in 20 years.' Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the company, they...

Micro Switch celebrates 75 years of sensors.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Spotlighting longevity, durability and impact on the industry, Honeywell celebrated the 75th anniversary of its Micro Switch technology with a gathering of employees, executives and media at its facility in Freeport, IL. The day...

Industry powers autonomous vehicles.(testing of Lone Wolf race car)
October 1, 2007... By Staff During a test demo before the upcoming Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Urban Challenge on Nov. 3, the autonomous racecar Lone Wolf was recently made available for ride-alongs to industrial representatives, local...

HART, ISA agree to collaborate on wireless standard.(HART Communication Foundation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... By Staff The HART Communication Foundation (HCF) and ISA entered into an agreement to collaborate and investigate opportunities to incorporate WirelessHART into the work of the SP100 Committee. HCF announced on Sept. 24 that it granted...

Field device tool knowledge.
October 1, 2007... By Staff The FDT Technology Seminar Series launches in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and in Houston, TX, on Tues., Sept. 18 and on Mon., Nov. 5, 2007, respectively. Sites are the SAIT campus in Calgary and the Chevron headquarters in Houston....

OAGIS collaborates with ISA, WBF.(Open Applications Group Integration Specification)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... By Staff ISA has announced that OAGIS will build ISA-95 based Business Object Documents in collaboration with the ISA-95 Standards Committee on Enterprise-Control Integration and WBF's XML Working Group. The goal of these documents is to...

Industrial control equipment sales rising, says NEMA.(Financial report)
October 1, 2007... By Staff National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) tracks industrial control equipment, among other numbers, and at present, the trend looks good according to the organization's 'Primary Industrial Control Index' through...

By the Numbers.
October 1, 2007... By Staff 2 stages are involved in developing an embedded control system: 1) write and debug the code on a PC with the target system simulated in software; and 2) download it to the microcontroller connected to the real target system,...

Evaluation board for programming.
October 1, 2007... By Staff The II-EVB-600 from Connect One is an evaluation board for programming the iChip CO2064 and supports upper layer Internet protocols using either AT+i commands or the iChipConfig utility. It can be used for evaluation and...

Platform offers early testing for embedded software.
October 1, 2007... By Staff S2 Technologies' Stride 2.1 Embedded Software Verification Platform is a scalable platform that enables the development of software for wireless digital handsets supporting both standard cellular telephones and push-to-talk...

Dustproof and water resistant pushbutton switch.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Pushbutton switch from Phaseda is rated IP54 with protection against dust and water without an external PVC cap thanks to its internal design. Its high electrical rating up to 20A, 125 Vac with UL approval is ideal for many power...

Electrical panel design application.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Moeller Electric's M@x is a software application for designing electrical panels dedicated to power distribution developed with IGE+XAO, a computer aided design specialist. Application gives quotation of an electrical...

Easy replication of programming with flash tool.
October 1, 2007... By Staff The FlashDrop from ABB is a palm-sized tool for parameter selection and setting which can copy parameters between two identical drives or between a PC and a drive. Users can open the top of the box and place the FlashDrop wand...

Small keypad panels.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Beijer Electronics' expanded its line of Extern panels with the K10m and K20m models. They are the smallest keypad panels in the series to meet the demand for operator panels in applications with limited space and no need for a...

Integrated coil for flexible production.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Parker Fluid Control's integrated coil for its Series 204 and 304 solenoid valves features a rotating conduit hub for easy installation. Both types offer a complete line of high-temperature watertight coil designs to meet...

Connective process indicator.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Sartorius Corp.'s X3 Process Indicator provides controls of process hopper scales with strain gauge load cells for use in process automation applications. Its standard Ethernet TCP/IP interface allows integration into existing...

High speed and high force actuators.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Linak's high speed and high force electric actuators are built on the LA36 actuator platform. One has a speed of up to 6.3 in./second without a load and another version has a maximum load of 2,247 lb. It is ideal for traffic...

Rugged outdoor wireless access point/bridge.
October 1, 2007... By Staff The AWK-1200 series multipurpose wireless access point/bridge and AP client from Moxa is housed in a rugged IP68/67 certified weatherproof enclosure to withstand extreme climatic conditions. Its design helps to guard against the...

Durable peristaltic pump.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Watson-Marlow Bredel's 720 Series peristaltic pump is designed for accurate metering and dosing of corrosive, abrasive, and sensitive fluids, and is ideal for the contamination-free transfer of acids, paints, oils, inks, dyes, or...

OEM module for DeviceNet.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Woodhead Industries' new Brad Communications DC100DN OEM module for the DeviceNet fieldbus is a range of modules characterized by small size (90 X 40 mm) providing a connection to a choice of fieldbuses, including CC-Link,...

Steeplechase VLC with integrated motion network.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Steeplechase VLC software from Phoenix Contact now features integration of the SynqNet motion network when used with the RapidCode VLC driver. The software with integrated SynqNet provides a programming environment for real-time...

SATA-to-compact flash adapter.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Mesa Electronic's CFADPT10 is a low cost SATA-to-compact flash adapter designed for embedded systems, which allows users to connect a compact flash drive to any system that has a SATA port. The adapter uses the same mechanical...

Rugged, under water temperature sensor.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Direct immersion RTD temperature sensor from Weed Instrument is nuclear qualified and designed and tested to be installed directly into the bypass of the primary coolant loop of pressurized water reactors. Model N9355 RTD has been...

High temperature data acquisition system for instrumentation.
October 1, 2007... By Staff C&D Technologies' ADS-939 sampling A/D converter is designed for use in medical imaging, radar, sonar, communications, and instrumentation applications. It is a fully integrated data acquisition system that gives true 16-bit...

Small space storage of up to 8 GB.
October 1, 2007... By Staff SiliconDrive USB CF products from SiliconSystems are part of a storage solution combining the performance and compatibility of USB with the industry-standard CF form factor. Available in capacities ranging from 1- to 8-gigabytes,...

Tiny ac current sensors.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Silicon Laboratories' low-loss high-accuracy ac current sensors for power applications are reportedly the world's smallest of its kind. The Si85000 integrates the functional equivalent of a current transformer circuit into a 4 x 4...

Expanded line of rugged cables.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Northwire Inc. is expanding its DataCell Field rugged cable product line to include CC-link, mid ODVA DeviceNet and nominal 100V and 80V FOUNDATION fieldbus cables. The high flex life DeviceNet cables are designed for discrete...

Multifast connectors.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Molded M27 multifast connectors from Turck can be used to provide power and signals to factory automation equipment and can be replacements for DB-25 style connectors in industrial setting where DB-25 connectors are limited to 30...

Photoelectric family for small applications.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Photoelectric family from Balluff is designed for small parts conveying equipment to help designers reduce a machine's overall footprint on the factory floor. The family, called BOS 11K, includes diffuse, retro-reflective,...

Switch-locking devices provide alternate control method.
October 1, 2007... By Staff SLD series switch locking devices from Omron Scientific Technologies Inc. are intended for use as an alternative control method while performing routine, repetitive, or integral tasks to the production process. The SLD series...

Multiparameter analyzer.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Emerson Process Management's Rosemount Analytical model 1056 intelligent analyzer is flexible, multiparameter, and is said to reduce the cost per loop and save panel space by offering a single- or dual-sensor input with an...

NetDoctor DeviceNet diagnostics.
October 1, 2007... By Staff Woodhead Industries, a division of Molex Inc., adds the BradCommunications NetDoctor to its line of diagnostic tools. The BradCommunications NetDoctor is a passive device that continuously monitors a DeviceNet network and stores...

Scales and Load Cells.
October 1, 2007... Dick Johnson, Control Engineering Wide-ranging capability, increased accuracy and adaptability have become the hallmark of these familiar devices. Weighing technology has been a critical part of industrial activity ever since its...

Steel Mill Cogeneration.
October 1, 2007... Peter Welander, Control Engineering Capturing low BTU waste gasses and steam from a blast furnace installation in Brazil provides electricity comparable to a utility size power plant. Given the price of fossil fuels and growing...

Wind Power's Growing Contribution.
October 1, 2007... Peter Welander, Control Engineering Wind turbine and grid interface advancements bring this green power source into the mainstream. On a flight from Chicago to Boston, the plane flew over Lake Erie, near the north shore. Passengers on...

Recovering Energy from Gas Distribution.
October 1, 2007... Peter Welander, Control Engineering Combination of technologies generates power from pressure reduction in natural gas distribution networks. Long-distance interstate natural gas pipelines typically operate at pressures between 700 and...

When will wireless be ready for control functions?
October 1, 2007... Peter Welander, Control Engineering Today, wireless technology is fine for level measurements on a tank farm, vibration readings on a compressor and other low-criticality monitoring operations. But what will it take for companies to feel...

Dynamic system simulation.
October 1, 2007... Kevin Hogan and Ricardo Dunia, National Instruments This is the final article of a five-part series reviewing various programming approaches to complex systems. Previous articles have focused on ladder diagrams, function block diagrams,...