Control Engineering's most clicked articles in September 2019 included stories about control system design shift, process control education, model-following control, the evolution of modern manufacturing, and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Hot topics in Control Engineering, for September 2019, included control system design shift, process control education, model-following control, the evolution of modern manufacturing, and more. These are based on the top 10 most read articles online in Control Engineering September. Links to each article below.
1. Shift in control system technologies, design
Project execution using a process control system highly integrated virtual environment melds software and networking to uncouple control applications from physical equipment, and controllers from physical I/O. This reduces capital cost by shifting from customization to standardization and eliminating some non-value-added work.
2. Continuing education advances process control, instrumentation productivity
Process control productivity requires education for optimal technology specification, integration and use. Industrial suppliers are among those doing the educating.
3. The basics of model-following control
Two proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers can be better than one. Model-following control may be the best choice if it’s important to get the process variable to the setpoint without hunting or overshoot.
4. Evolution of modern manufacturing: more data
Automation future: The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 are widely known concepts, have not been widely adopted. On the way, physical device data connectivity can increase information flow to add efficiency, eliminate errors and increase uptime.
5. Control system connectivity update
Digitalization, IIoT and Industry 4.0 implementations need communication hubs, a role well-suited to PLCs and HMIs.
6. Future of industrial automation: discern the possibilities, potential
Industrial automation is on the threshold of a new revolution, moving through rapid technology changes, adoption of new systems and networking architectures and looking toward interoperability of devices and systems.
7. Manufacturing, automation leaders inspire, mentor
Achievements in manufacturing and communities inspire mentors and younger engineers seeking to create greater efficiency, optimization and a brighter future.
8. 5 enduring developments in electronic motion control
Motor drives, power-switching transistors and microprocessors, sophisticated control algorithms, software influences, and mechatronic integration are among the standout electronic motion control developments.
9. A mobile HMI strategy can lead to digital transformation
Leveraging a mobile human-machine interface (HMI) strategy can help an organization’s digital transformation by improving operations and a company’s overall digital intelligence.
10. Four steps to succeed with the artificial intelligence of things
The artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) is creating great value for manufacturers and other companies by combining the internet and AI.
On Mondays, see the top 5 articles of the prior week.
Chris Vavra, production editor, CFE Media, [email protected].
