Leveraging process simulation throughout the plant lifecycle
Using simulation for plant design, process automation system validation, and operator training will help optimize plant operations.
Simulation model helps robots navigate more like humans
MIT researchers have now devised a way to help robots navigate environments more like humans do by letting robots determine how to reach a goal by exploring the environment, observing other agents, and exploiting what they’ve learned before in similar situations.
Control system simulator teaches operators how to thwart hackers
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) have developed a simulator to help operators of chemical processing plants better understand the security issues of industrial control systems (ICSs). Future versions are being planned to simulate electric power grids, treatment facilities, and other manufacturing facilities.
Network interoperability, process digitalization
Think Again: Time sensitive networking helps advance communications in seven ways; digital transformation enables process industries in five ways.
How AR and VR are transforming training in manufacturing
Augmented reality (VR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies are improving training programs in plant facilities and bridging the skills gap with more efficient training for the incoming workforce – training new workers at 30 to 40% more efficiently and reducing assembly time.
Training younger generations with immersive technologies
Adopting new technology such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) will help train younger employees faster without comprising safety on the plant floor.
3-D robotic welding simulation benefits
Cover Story: Teaching robots how to weld using 3-D simulation is beneficial because welding is a complex, precise process that cannot be explained or taught easily to humans.
Virtualized manufacturing, simulation opportunities
Cover Story: A simulated factory floor can monitor parameters, expose production gaps, highlight cost inefficiencies, reduce carbon footprint, and, applied to one product, can simulate its role in the real world while still on the drawing board.
Standardizing control system programming with IEC 61131-3
For the first time in the history of industrial controls, industrial control system (ICS) programming—regardless of the controller type—can be implemented with the same standard, and the programs created with that standard easily can be transported from one compliant control system to another.
The IoT’s impact on process manufacturing environments
The Internet of Things (IoT) in the manufacturing world is about data and how to get more of it. But process manufacturing companies looking to take advantage of this need to do their homework to really understand its benefits.