While industrial automation in general has just made the move towards ccompany-independent standards, new concepts like cloud computing seem to be almost too revolutionary for this industry. As a consequence, equipment providers tread softly and integrate new technology with caution. Why not hide a cloud in an M2M-Platform?
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?
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.
Multiple separate Ethernet interfaces usually are integrated in servers or network equipment while multiple ports in PCs are normally all connected to one Ethernet chip. Rigging an industrial PC with such a server-like architecture can give it an edge in an automation network.
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.
After a rather long dry spell, the British industry is receiving interest again from foreign suppliers and producers. Germany-based input specialist Hoffmann+Krippner expands its UK operations with a new company in order to deliver customizable Panel-PCs.
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.
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.
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.
The hardware transition from standard PC to industrial computing is going faster than ever before. Intel’s Core-I processors have replaced former generations rather quickly, since the Core architecture has some advantages that makes it well suited for IPCs. At the SPS/IPC/DRIVES in Nuernberg, many of those systems will be shown.
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