Control Systems

Figure 1: HMI development environments typically provide many design elements representing physical devices, such as valves and pumps, and logical devices, like analog meters. Some samples of the AutomationDirect C-more development software are shown here. Courtesy: AutomationDirect
HMI, OI January 31, 2020

Configure intuitive HMI screens to simplify automation

Design standards and best practices for human-machine interfaces (HMIs) continue evolving, but simplicity and clarity never go out of style.

By Bill Dehner
The controls upgrade to the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant will include installation of new digital components for all control facilities, an updated and modern control room and robust new protection schemes to help protect against physical and cyberattacks. Courtesy: Burns & McDonnell
Project Management January 23, 2020

Electrical control system and modernization upgrade for power plant

Burns & McDonnell will serve as engineer-procure-construct (EPC) contractor for an electrical control system upgrade and modernization project for the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant.

By Mary Young

PLCs, PACs

Opto 22’s groov EPIC is built on open technologies like Linux and MQTT to support a future that can share more and do more. The groov EPIC controller won a 2020 Engineers’ Choice Award in the Industrial Internet of Things Connectivity – Edge Controller category. Courtesy: Opto 22
System Integration February 12, 2020

Five automation design tips for the future

Automation design and system integration: When designing automation for the future, consider open source, capital costs, evolution, multi-vendor capability and cybersecurity.

By Josh Eastburn
See more about PLCs, PACs

Embedded Systems, Edge Computing

Courtesy: CFE Media
Sensors, Vision December 1, 2018

Embedded vision is changing how people, machines interact

Embedded vision immerses the user in a more natural way by allowing the products to better augment our existing capabilities.

By AIA
See more about Embedded Systems, Edge Computing

Dedicated Controls

Events and Awards October 11, 2018

Vote now for 2019 Engineers’ Choice Finalists

The official ballot is open for voting for Control Engineering North American print and digital edition subscribers, for a limited time. Review finalists and vote by using CFE Media's New Products for Engineers platform. (Voting closed Jan. 4, 2019.)

By Amanda Pelliccione
See more about Dedicated Controls

PID, APC

Figure: Three top skill sets to get ahead are engineering, project management, and communication/presentation. Courtesy: Control Engineering research, CFE Media and CFE Technology
Discrete Manufacturing February 14, 2020

Hot topics in Control Engineering for 2019

Think Again: Engineering salaries and career tips, object-oriented programming, rate-predictive control, Internet of Things (IoT) and career advice were among top articles posted on the Control Engineering website during 2019.

By Mark T. Hoske
See more about PID, APC

DCS, SCADA, Controllers

Maverick Technologies provides more advice about distributed control system migration at www.mavtechglobal.com/solutions/dcsnext. Courtesy: Maverick Technologies
DCS, SCADA, Controllers February 2, 2020

Process control migration woes?

Migrating controls: Plan ahead with any process control system migration to stay on track. Use front-end loading on the project, and ask these 10 questions about migrating from a legacy distributed control system (DCS) or other controls to upgraded options.

By Lynn Njaa
See more about DCS, SCADA, Controllers