10 alarm management tips for the busy control engineer
Alarm management has been a great success for the process industry. Initial challenges have largely been met, but new challenges have emerged. Alarm management is most effective as an operations tool, not a safety tool.
Technique developed to allow real-time microscopy at high heat and loading
Researchers at North Carolina State University have demonstrated a technique called in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) heating and loading, which allows them to track microscopic changes in metals or other materials in real time in extreme environments such as nuclear reactors.
Benefits of digitizing reality for workers in manufacturing
Digitizing reality is now possible for workers thanks to technology advances such as the Internet of Things (IoT). This new reality allows workers to benefit from augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR) to solve old problems in new and better ways.
Other PLC programming languages
Ladder logic is commonly used in the U.S. for programmable logic controllers (PLCs), but other languages are better suited for some programming applications. See sample PLC code in five languages.
Researchers develop device that channels heat into light
Rice University scientists are designing arrays of aligned single-wall carbon nanotubes to channel mid-infrared radiation and increase the efficiency of solar energy systems.
Keeping an HMI safe after companies stop updating the software
Keeping a human-machine interface (HMI) up-to-date and safe even after companies stop updating the software behind the HMI can be a tricky process.
Automated system generates robotic actuators
MIT researchers have developed an automated system that designs and 3-D prints robotic actuators, which are optimized and automatically created, which is almost impossible for a human to do.
Using robots in agriculture will create jobs
The agricultural industry is looking to technology to solve its challenges such as a labor and food shortage and robots are an important part of that strategy.
Revised pump design saves diesel margin for nuclear power plant
Nuclear power facilities are equipped with large diesel generators that supply emergency power for important safety circuits in the event of a situation where a power outage requires critical pumps to operate and safety shutdown the reactor.
IIoT/Cloud series, Part 3: Introduction to machine learning
August 15, 2019
11AM PT | 1PM CT | 2PM ET
Benefits of operationalizing cybersecurity
Operationalizing cybersecurity requires balancing protection and response with cyber attacks, which are not predictable, and trying to stay ahead of the people who are actively looking to cause problems.
Top 5 Control Engineering articles July 8-14
Articles about selecting an enclosure, using context with the IIoT, cybersecurity best practices, digitalization advantages, and connecting a PLC were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 8-14. Miss something? You can catch up here.