EPN Industrial Automation Blog

Process control with a Historian

Even industrial automation systems follow the general trend towards more functionality. A new version of a common process control platform has the potential to make some additional systems unnecessary.

SCADA vulnerability

A week ago, security researcher Rubén Santamarta publicly announced details of multiple vulnerabilities affecting the Schneider Electric Quantum PLC Ethernet Module, and coordinated his findings with ICS-CERT. The Quantum Ethernet Module is prone to an authentication-bypass vulnerability.

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?

Ethernet for ‘intelligent’ applications

A major driver in the development of »CC-Link IE« was to deliver an automation network for manufacturing without many of today’s shortcomings. It’s meant to be simple to implement, easy to troubleshoot and use standard Ethernet tools. The current result is »CC-Link IE Field«.

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.

On to pastures new

Automation bus systems and components have reached a level where they can easily be used in other application areas. This is especially true for image processing systems and all kinds of rough application environments.

From Bus to Bus

In most cases traditional fieldbuses have been replaced by Ethernet-based solutions or demoted to inferior tasks. This could result in systems with three different Ethernet protocols and various subordinate fieldbuses. Modern automation components need to take care of those issues.

Repeating light

Today, fibre-optics based on polymer optical fibres - POF- are increasingly being used, not only because they are immune to electromagnetic interference but because they are also able to meet the demands of automated applications for greater data volumes. However, these fibres are subject to a natural aging process, which successively increases fibre attenuation. That in turn increases the need for exact diagnostics of the transmission path.

Death of the living dead

Fieldbuses have been dead for a few years now even though not everyone in the industry noticed that. Everything’s Ethernet now and even the toughest defenders of the old ways have to admit now that the Fieldbus times are over.