’09: What you liked online

Each year Control Engineering tallies posted article visits and provides a ranking. Top 10 online articles visited in 2009 reveal readers’ interests in robotics, professional effectiveness, wind power, and more. mhoske@reedbusiness.com

By Mark T. Hoske, editor-in-chief January 1, 2010

Each year Control Engineering tallies posted article visits and provides a ranking. Top 10 online articles visited in 2009 reveal readers’ interests in robotics, professional effectiveness, wind power, and more.

  1. Machine control. Northrop Grumman recommended Siemens CNC technologies for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter plane supply chain; volumetric compensation machines high-tolerance parts.

  2. Excellence. Engineers’ Choice Awards for HMIs and Industrial PCs. Many wanted to see who was voted best in last year’s competition. Look for new winners in February.

  3. Guidance. Tutorial videos on control panel designs invited readers to post comments and add advice to the tips and tricks included in six, brief tutorial videos, targeting control engineers, panel builders, and system integrators. Watch for the 2010 tutorial video contest starting soon.

  4. Robotics. Visibility of industrial robotics reached a new level on May 21, 2009, when Warner Brothers Studios released “Terminator Salvation.” ABB robots play a large role, including the final, climactic scene. Photos showed the models used.

  5. Effectiveness. Guest commentary covered the seven habits of highly successful control engineers. Develop or enhance specific habits to increase success.

  6. Sustainability and performance. Schneider Electric and Orange County Choppers are building a hybrid motorcycle, among safe, reliable, efficient, productive, and green energy solutions.

  7. Large energy. This gas turbine has 2,838 sensors, delivering 90 GB data per hour in testing. Full operation will bring 530 MW and >60% thermal efficiency.

  8. Refresher course. Diagrams aid understanding five IEC 61131-3 programming languages, along with related advantages and disadvantages.

  9. Wind power technology. Wind power rooftop unit generates electricity in moderate wind. Green Energy Technologies’ WindCube, said to be the first rooftop commercial-scale urban wind power system, can generate short payback with moderate wind. A photo gallery and diagram helped show how.

  10. Wind power controls. Winds of Change for Power and Control looks at wind power engineering and automation challenges, and lessons as larger multi-megawatt, utility-scale wind turbines produce clean electric power.

MHoske@cfemedia.com