Top Control Engineering articles, June 2011

Most visited articles at www.controleng.com during June 2011 included robotics, HMI optimization, interactive plant performance, energy efficiency, Ethernet protocols, award-winning products, among other articles.

July 3, 2011

Most visited articles at www.controleng.com during June 2011 included robotics, HMI optimization, interactive plant performance, energy efficiency, Ethernet protocols, control-loop monitoring, tips on patents, power control, and award-winning products.

2011 Engineers’ Choice Awards – Spotlight on Innovation

Spotlight on Innovation – Cover story: Best automation, control, and instrumentation products in 30 categories.

Robotic legs, motion control: Advances exceed some human capabilities – Smart prosthetics, including robotic replacements for human legs, meet and exceed some human capabilities, and advanced sensor developments will soon close the control loop between humans and robotic limbs, said Dr. Hugh Herr, biomechatronics researcher and professor, MIT Media Lab. See photos. Link to video.

DCS migration survey (results to be reported at a future date)

Optimizing your HMI – Taking time to reevaluate workstations and interfaces can uncover countless ways to increase performance, optimize efficiency, and boost profitability.

Video: Making your plant performance reporting more interactive – What will tomorrow’s “morning meeting” look like? ABB gives a preview of what’s going on in the lab and what your future HMI may look like.

Siemens gas turbine breaks 60% efficiency barrier- Two separate performance tests—one by German technical certification agency TŨV—officially confirmed 60%+ net thermal efficiency for Siemens’ H-class gas turbine, while producing nearly 600 MW electrical output in combined-cycle operation at the Irsching Unit 4 power plant near Ingolstadt, Germany. This officially verified record achievement comes ahead of other gas turbine manufacturers pursuing the same high-efficiency goal.

Adding Ethernet protocol options – If your device has to be able to communicate using more than one industrial Ethernet protocol, the number of options is growing.

Cover story: Control loop monitors help optimize controller performance – Vendors of control loop performance monitoring and optimization software describe what it does and how users benefit. See graphics, related links.

Tips and Tricks – Patents: 10 things engineers should know – Basic patent knowledge can enrich engineers in many ways. Here are 10 tips every engineer should know about patent applications and patent law, including what not to do if you suspect infringement.

Power Control: Advanced Process Control – Control and stabilization of a multiple boiler plant can be improved by using an advanced process control (APC) approach.

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