EPN Industrial Automation Blog

Automation abroad

In many environments where automation would be very beneficial, e.g. for worker’s health, conditions are thoroughly adverse for machinery and sensitive embedded computers. Moreover, systems must be usable with protective gloves.

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?

Developing M2M

Machine-to-Machine communication is a term used for applications ranging from ultra-short range sensor couplings up to large automation networks. None of those pose problems in themselves, but difficulties have been known to arise at gateways to the internet.

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.

embedded world 2011: Virtual Android

The smartphone operating system Android is very versatile, but you wouldn’t want it causing havoc in safety critical systems. However, if you can’t do without and no safer alternative like Blackberry OS or iOS around, virtualization can keep your system clean.

embedded world 2011: The industrial touch

Ruggedized touch panel computers can serve as control front ends for industrial networking systems. However, the usually delicate touch screens have to withstand all kinds of mistreatment.

Timekeeping Computer

Are women or men notoriously late? An old and rather boring discussion which isn’t going to be resolved in a hurry. Will an accurate timing computer help? Probably not with this specific problem, but there are a few applications for the Rackmount Computer DA-683 from Moxa around. It uses a precision time protocol with IEEE 1588 v2 functionality that gives automation systems precise time accuracy for event logging.

Good things come to those who wait

The close and long-lived cooperation between DSM Computer and Able Design is ending up in a merger: With the integration of display provider Able Design the manufacturer of embedded systems and industrial PCs DSM Computer plans to improve its competence within the market of “Industrial Public Display Systems” providing complete solutions for industrial process visualisation and professional digital signage systems.