Control Engineering

HMI servers should support multi-client, multi-server and multi-runtime concepts, providing options for local or cloud-based servers and secure communication protocols, such as OPC Unified Architecture, Automation Device Specification or ADS over MQTT (message queuing telemetry transport). Courtesy: Beckhoff Automation

Mobility September 16, 2019

New mobile HMI designs respond to user, device requirements

HMI software should mix elements of web design and controls engineering to create effective operator interfaces for industrial displays and mobile devices of all sizes.

By Daymon Thompson

Mobility September 12, 2019

Using web browsers for HMI, SCADA applications

New capabilities in mobile-responsive design make human-machine interfaces (HMIs) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) applications more valuable on the plant floor.

By Travis Cox

Wi-Fi-assisted inertial odometry (WIO) is a software program, but researchers created a hardware prototype for initial testing with other devices. Courtesy: North Carolina State University

Mobility September 7, 2019

Using Wi-Fi sonar to measure indoor movement speed and distance

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a technique for measuring speed and distance in indoor environments called Wi-Fi-assisted inertial odometry (WIO), which could be used to improve navigation technologies for robots and drones.

By Matt Shipman

Figure 1: Intuitive mobile HMIs allow an organization to take advantage of many positive cultural and behavioral changes related to digital transformation, in part by leveraging the same screens and information as operators use in the control room. Courtesy: Emerson

Mobility September 5, 2019

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.

By Danny Strinden and Mariana Dionisio

While traditional maintenance teams completed manual routes, organizations that capitalize on modern technologies can stream asset data to the cloud. By eliminating manual measurements, personnel can attend to needed repairs and the ever-expanding backlog of work orders. Courtesy: Fluke Corp.

Mobility September 4, 2019

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

By John Bernet

A portion of the four-phase process used by SkyWalker to vet backend systems that support mobile apps. Courtesy: Georgia Tech, Ohio State University

Mobility August 29, 2019

Smartphone apps may connect to vulnerable cloud servers

Cybersecurity researchers at Georgia Tech and Ohio State have discovered vulnerabilities in the backend systems that feed content and advertising to smartphone applications through a network of cloud-based servers that most users probably don’t even know exists.

By John Toon

To test how well the algorithm might work in a warehouse, the researchers had a robot (white arm) monitor participants performing activities in a warehouse-like setting. Within three seconds of the end of each activity, the robot showed a score on its display (right). Courtesy: Parsa et al./IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters/University of Washington

Mobility August 23, 2019

Machine learning used to determine warehouse ergonomics for worker safety

Researchers at the University of Washington used machine learning to develop a system that monitors factory and warehouse workers and tell them, in real time, how risky their behaviors are.

By Sarah McQuate

Figure 2: Ladder logic programming example; LL is the most commonly used PLC programing, most closely resembling circuit diagrams used for relays. Courtesy: Frank Lamb, Automation Primer

Mobility August 1, 2019