By the Numbers – 2010-01-01

2 reasons for delay: Political process details and a lot of rain. Both got in the way of a needed RTU/SCADA upgrade. http://budurl.com/uujd 6 promising nuclear power technologies are identified in Generation IV International Forum recommendations. Some can consume nuclear waste. http://budurl.com/qf6h 3 system integrator podcasts offer advice about 1.

January 1, 2010

2 reasons for delay: Political process details and a lot of rain. Both got in the way of a needed RTU/SCADA upgrade. https://budurl.com/uujd

6 promising nuclear power technologies are identified in Generation IV International Forum recommendations. Some can consume nuclear waste. https://budurl.com/qf6h

3 system integrator podcasts offer advice about 1. MES projects ( https://budurl.com/b3wd ), 2. information aggregation on dashboards ( https://budurl.com/js9n ), and 3. employee retention and process control system communications ( https://budurl.com/6yvp ).

2010 European Commission changes to machine safety requirements have been postponed. It could affect OEMs, suppliers, and end users differently. https://budurl.com/gvw9

6x throughput and better packet retries are among attributes of IEEE 802.11n wireless for industrial automation networks. See graphs. https://budurl.com/dezb

1,800 rpm drives the generator after gearbox conversion inside a wind power generation gearbox. See manufacturing video. https://budurl.com/wpcf

4 things to consider to improve grounding and reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI): Check building grounds, which can have different potentials; check VFD requirements, which can vary beyond other devices; pay attention to proper EMI grounding practices; and consider working to improve U.S. standards covering EMI. https://budurl.com/5s2t

20 top articles read during 2009 were posted in a summary story Jan. 4. Did you read and heed the most-visited Control Engineering online articles? https://budurl.com/kby7

5 months of manufacturing growth was reported in early January by Institute for Supply Management. ISM says new orders, production, and employment are growing while inventories are contracting. https://budurl.com/gcu6

10 industry channels and product pages provide targeted information on automation topics via the top navigation bar at www.controleng.com .

20% gain in combined car and truck fuel economy since 2004, cited by Ford, was attributed to technology advances such as a six-speed transmission, better engine controls, and electric motors used in steering systems. The gain was nearly twice that of the next automaker increase, Ford said. More details and photos are available. https://budurl.com/djbs

5 major industry organizations (Fieldbus Foundation, HART Communication Foundation, Profibus User Organization, OPC Foundation, and FDT Group) in the EDDL (Electronic Device Description Language) Cooperation Team reorganized to become FDI (Field Device Interface) group. EDDL and FDT (Field Device Tool) groups are working toward building a unified standard that intends to advance the ability to work with ever-more-sophisticated field devices and operate with both platforms. https://budurl.com/m2n4

1,800 system integrators are in the Control Engineering Automation Integrator Guide, online. When you’ve got a problem—or a project—and you need a specific resource to help you tackle it, who do you call? Find the right system integrator with our online database, www.controleng.com/integrators .

No. 12-1/2 Erector set project book included robot plans that may have inspired long-ago youth to study engineering. During WWI, the war production board wanted people to donate to the war effort instead of purchasing toys for Christmas. Know any engineers that were inspired to go into manufacturing as a result of Erector sets? Any children you know assemble something over the holidays? Read more in the AIMing for Automated Vehicles blog on the Control Engineering website. https://budurl.com/f3d6

647 controllers, programmable. This search in the Control Engineering Buyers’ Guide, a Kelly-search partnership, turns up 647 suppliers, which then may be sorted by region, state, city, country. Many subcategories also refine the search at www.cesuppliersearch.com .