Top 10 Control Engineering articles, June 11 to July 11: Salary and Career Survey, natural gas flowmeters, binary-coded decimals, more

Articles about the 2016 Salary and Career Survey, natural gas flowmeters, binary-coded decimals and PLCs, 6-axis industrial robots, and high-performance HMIs were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from June 11 to July 11. Miss something? You can catch up here. Also see what ranked 6-10.

By Chris Vavra July 12, 2016

The top 5 most read articles online, from Jun. 11 to Jul. 11 for Control Engineering covered the 2016 Salary and Career Survey, natural gas flowmeters, binary-coded decimals and PLCs, 6-axis industrial robots, and high-performance HMIs. Also see what ranked 6-10 over the last month. 

1. Control Engineering Salary and Career Survey, 2016

Control Engineering research shows nearly a 5% increase in salaries among respondents to an average of $94,747; analysis of salaries by years with employer shows upward salary pressure for engineering new hires. 

2. Selecting flowmeters for natural gas

Different parts of the natural gas delivery chain require different instruments, such as differential pressure (DP), ultrasonic, and Coriolis flowmeters.

3. Binary-coded decimals and PLCs

Binary-coded decimal (BCD) is a class of binary encodings of decimal numbers where each decimal is represented by a fixed number of bits, usually four or eight, which goes against the way humans compute data. This disconnect can cause problems for programmable logic controller (PLC) users.

4. Tool calibration method speeds implementation of 6-axis industrial robots

Inside Machines: A teach-position method calibrates tools used by six-degrees-of-freedom (6DoF) robots for peak efficiency and improves industrial processes.

5. Developing high-performance HMIs: Evolution, improved usability

This two-part series examines the development of high-performance human-machine interface (HMI) methodology. Part 1 covers HMI evolution, security, improving usability, and consistent use of color.

Figure 6: Top three job satisfaction factors are technical challenge, financial compensation, and feeling of accomplishment. Courtesy: Control Engineering 2016 Salary and Career Survey research report.More popular stories on Control Engineering

As an online-only feature, we’re featuring the stories that finished 6-10 over the past month.

6. Streamlining assembly systems using PC-based control 

Beckhoff’s Shane Novacek recently spoke with Adam Moyer, principal controls engineer at Itron, to discuss how the company has used PC- and EtherCAT-based automation technology to improve manufacturing efficiency and save costs at its Waseca, Minn. facility. Data acquistion is 15% to 20% faster in overall process cycle time.

7. Robotic vision systems: What is doable?

Although robotic vision is constantly evolving, there is still a technological gap between the interpretation of what a robot sees and what a human sees. What about 3-D versus 2-D vision?

8. Bridging the oil and gas ‘Skills Gap’

In tough economic times, smart hiring is essential—and can’t be overlooked.

9. Updating process control systems

When legacy control systems are replaced with new technology there is a great opportunity to benefit from modern systems and advanced technology. 

10. Engineering career advice from the 2016 Control Engineering salary survey 

Many subscribers taking the 2016 Control Engineering salary survey provided write-in advice about engineering careers; education, workplace strategies, and project management are among engineering tips and reminders.

The list was developed using CFE Media’s web analytics for stories viewed on controleng.com, June 11 to July 11, for articles published within the last two months.  

Chris Vavra, production editor, CFE Media, cvavra@cfemedia.com.