EPN Industrial Automation Blog

Automation platforms

Today, control units for industrial automation need to be modular in order to keep cost and integration effort at a reasonable level. Since many of those applications require components (i.e software and hardware) from different vendors, certification and licensing issues arise. Bundles or system platforms may ease those pains.

Holiday blog: Long-term board

Many industrial applications require long-term availability of their components. While this is comparatively easy when it's about mechanics, industrial computers depend on the availability of processors, memory, controller-ICs and similar rapidly-changing parts. Usually, the choice is between using "mature" technology and expensive deals with providers specialized in 'banking' components. Maybe there's a different approach?

Fast memory for Profibus

Many fieldbus systems originate in the last century, including the installed hardware basis. Slowly, the architectures are being enhanced to make use of modern technologies. As an example, PCI Express allows for transparent implementation of different interface techniques, including Profibus.

PCI/104-Express for rough conditions

The good old PC/104 form factor had been made fit for modern applications with PCI Express. In this incarnation it supports modern processors but remains a good choice for industrial applications under harsh conditions.

Japan: News from Distributors

European and international distributors offer online information about the delivery and supply situation regarding their Japanese linecards.

Can you touch a cloud?

What’s more preferable to visit: CeBIT or embedded world 2011? That may have been a relevant question last week, since both trade shows took place quite at the same time last week. Well, that’s somehow hard to decide: It goes without saying that everything at CeBIT 2011 (1 to 5 March) revolves primarily around bits, bytes and innovative technologies, such as new smartphones and tablet computers.

SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2010: Energy and Safety

Focusing on energy efficiency and Safety/Security, Moxa is going to exhibit products from its railway, public transportation, ITS, marine, factory automation, and power business segments at SPC/IPC/DRIVES in hall 9 stand 221.

Congatec discovers ECC

DRAM with error correction – ECC – has been around for many years, ensuring data integrity in servers as well as in scientific and financial computers. At the electronica show in Munich, congatec spokespeople tried very hard to leave the impression that they were the only company ever using ECC.

Multicore PC Control

The long debate whether multicore processors make sense in industrial automation is definitely over. The enormous advantages of distributing functions to dedicated cores outweigh the necessary processing overheads. And, realistically, there aren’t many single core processors left today when off-the-shelf hardware is required…

Growing C

For industrial automation, general purpose measurement and other specific markets, National Instruments has recently released more than 100 »C Series« modules. 50 of those come from NI itself, 50 are third-party modules.