Robots & Robot Controllers

The field of robotic controls is constantly changing with powerful processing, integration with vision systems, speed, precision and repeatability.

Automation.com’s Robots & Robot Controllers portal features valuable information and resources for controls and automation engineers to apply robots to automate manufacturing processes.  The portal focuses on all types of industrial robots and robot controllers. 

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Fundamentals of Test Measurement Instrumentation

Targeted to engineers, technicians, manufacturers, and students, this book discusses the specialized test instrumentation used in R&D laboratories, testing organizations, and industrial maintenance departments.

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2011 ISA Safety & Security Symposium
April 13-14, 2011

This symposium will provide an in-depth look at today's safety technologies and procedures associated with identifying and mitigating safety hazards in industrial environments. This symposium will focus not only on Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) topics, but also include material on cyber security.

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Applying Instrumentation in Hazardous (Classified) Locations

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This course provides a detailed, systematic approach to specifying and implementing instrumentation in hazardous locations. Related standards from the NFPA, NEMA, IEC, API, and ISA are discussed.

Course Details
When: 12–13 May 2011

Where: ISA Headquarters, Research Triangle Park, NC United States

Course No.:ES10

Instructor:Frank McGowan

CEUs:1.4

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Skid Integration Problems Solved by PLCopen Standards
By PLCOpen for Automation.com
The use of skid mounted equipment has become popular for a number of reasons but they pose some unique automation and control challenges that can be solved by using IEC 61131-3 and PLCopen standards.

Robotics CEO Round Table Discussion
On March 22, 2011 at Automate 2011, Åke Lindqvist, IFR President, Vice President ABB Robotics, presented the first results on the worldwide distribution of industrial robots in 2010. Afterwards, the CEO's of major robot companies from Europe, Japan and North America discussed on "The Robotics Competitive Edge" moderated by Bill Lydon, editor of Automation.com.

Top 10 Questions to Consider Before Buying an Industrial Robot
By Jeff Kamin for Automation.com
Robots are the buzz for anyone in manufacturing, assembling, packaging or distributing products. Many end users rely on an integrator or OEM to provide a robot solution without really understanding the potential benefits and liabilities. This article poses some of the questions that a robotic user should consider prior to selecting a robot and a robot programmer/installer.

ISA12 to drive proposals for the U.S. National Electrical Code
By Ellen Fussell Policastro for InTech
ISA12 Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Locations met in March to cover draft comment resolution and new project initiation (original documents, adoption of IEC standards, and co-publications with other Standards Development Organizations [SDOs]).

Browse more Articles by topic on our Automation Portals.

When upgrading machinery, don’t gamble with CE Marking
By Stewart Robinson, Pilz Automation Technology.
The Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC came into force at the end of 2009. While machine builders have to deal primarily with ‘scope’ and ‘conformity assessment,’ the main challenge for end users is the issue of 'upgrading' or 'interlinking' of machinery.

Browse more White Papers by topic on our Automation Portals.

Invensys installs optimization software at China National Petroleum
ROMeo optimization software enables CNPC to respond in real time to changes in feedstock variation, process conditions and utilities prices for sustainable energy savings.

Tridium controls Manitoba Hydro Place building
Tridium's Niagara Framework connects multiple systems and equipment within Manitoba Hydro Place, a 22-story office tower.

Browse more Application Stories by topic on our Automation Portals.

Sandvik Coromant starts composite machining blog
Blog allows users to ask questions and get them answered by their peers and Sandvik Coromant’s own team of experts.

Lantech publishes product guide
The 2011 product guide features a complete selection of Lantech product lines, including wireless access points, redundant fiber controllers and industrial switches.

Browse more Resources by topic on our Automation Portals.

Banner announces SureCross Wireless Performance Gateways
Gateways have 1-Watt transmit power in the 900 MHz ISM band, providing a range between devices of up to six miles.

AutomationDirect expands Current Sensing line
acuAMP line of current sensors now includes AC ground fault sensors and DC current transducers and switches.

Eaton releases SmartWire-DT panel wiring solution
The system reduces panel wiring complexity, improves system reliability, saves installation time and reduces panel space.

Advantech Launches Four New BACnet I/O Modules
The BAS-3000BC series can serve as BACnet MS/TP remote I/O modules through an RS-485 network to be integrated with BACnet DDC Controllers.

Matrox Graphics enhances multiple monitor software
Software can now drive up to 16 displays—plus keyboard, mouse, audio and up to eight additional USB 2.0 ports—at a distance of up to 1 km from a single PC.

AMETEK enhances Sorensen SG High-Power DC Supplies
Enhancements include four output voltage offerings of 10Vdc, 15Vdc, 20Vdc and 30Vdc to add to its current range of 40Vdc to 800Vdc.

HMS releases 2-port version of Anybus CompactCom for Modbus TCP
The 2-port Modbus TCP module includes an integrated switch that makes it possible to build networks in daisy chain rather than connecting all devices through an external switch.

Emerson to distribute VYCON flywheels
Emerson Network Power will distribute VYCON’S clean energy VDC and VDC-XE flywheel power systems with its Liebert uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems.

United Electronic Industries releases UEI-RSS Serial Server
Software makes UEI's PowerDNx DNx-SL-501 and DNx-SL-508 devices accessible as standard Windows or Linux serial ports.

Chromasens announces allPIXA industrial color line scan camera
allPIXA has line frequency of 96 kHz, a 2.5-fold increase in comparison with its predecessor.

Browse MORE new products introduced this week

GE joins board of PI North America
Bernie Anger, General Manager Control and Communication Systems for GE Intelligent Platforms, has been elected to PI North America's Board of Directors.

ODVA announces machinery initiative
ODVA launched a Machinery Initiative designed to improve the integration of machinery with the industrial manufacturing ecosystem.

Schneider Electric acquires DIGILINK
Headquartered in Mumbai, the DIGILINK cabling business has 92 employees and generated sales of about €25 million in calendar year 2010.

AutomationDirect to resell KEPServerEX
AutomationDirect will sell KEPDirect OPC Server for use with its controllers and remote I/O.

Emerson acquires Fisher Sanmar joint venture
Emerson has acquired full ownership of its Fisher Sanmar Limited joint venture from Sanmar Engineering.

Yokogawa Appoints Chester Mroz Head of North American Business
Mroz was the President of ABB’s petroleum, chemical and consumer industries business area based in Zurich, Switzerland.

Other Company & Organizational News:

• Okuma Names Jim King President and COO
  
• Westermo devices comply with international specs
  
• Siemens Opens Training Center in Houston
  
• Microscan Names Scott Summerville as President
  

Browse more Company & Organization News by topic on our Automation Portals.

GE to supply SmartSignal diagnostics to Constellation Energy
Constellation will deploy the SmartSignal Shield predictive-diagnostic solution, along with SmartSignal Cycle Watch software for combustion turbine start-ups.

Metso to maintain valves at Petrobras refineries in Brazil
Metso will supply of spare parts and maintenance services for Metso’s valves, actuators and positioners for 11 refineries in Brazil.

OSI to supply monarch SCADA/EMS to Montana-Dakota Utilities
MDU will upgrade and replace their legacy SCADA/EMS system with OSI's monarch (Multi-platform Open Network ARCHitecture) platform.

HPI to install Replacement fuel governor on a Westinghouse turbine
The RNU, a PLC-based fuel governor, is a "plug and play" direct replacement for the existing Woodward range of NetCon controllers.

Browse more Project News by topic on our Automation Portals.

New Job Postings

• Hydro Controls Engineer: Salt River Project - Phoenix, AZ
• Process/Project Engineer: automationtechies - Toledo area, OH

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Upcoming Events:

• 56th ISA Analysis Division Symposium - April 10-14, 2011
• 2011 ISA Safety & Security Symposium - April 13-14, 2011
• ABB Automation & Power World 2011 - April 18-21, 2011
• Scientific Automation Seminar - Houston - April 21, 2011
• CSIA Executive Conference 2011 - April 27-30, 2011
• ExperTune User Conference 2011 - May 10-12, 2011
• 11th ISA Fugitive Emissions-LDAR Symposium - May 17-19, 2011
• Windpower 2011 - May 22-25, 2011
• 54th Annual POWID Symposium - June 5-10, 2011
• Honeywell Users Group Americas 2011 - June 12-16, 2011
• 57th International Instrumentation Symposium - June 20-24, 2011
• 6th Annual Water and Wastewater Symposium - June 22-23, 2011
• 2011 Siemens Automation Summit - June 27-30, 2011

Upcoming Training:

• Cyber Security for Automation, Control, and SCADA Systems (IC32E - Online) - April 4, 2011 - May 27, 2011
• Advanced Design and SIL Verification (EC54) - April 6-7, 2011
• PLC/PAC Automation: Basic Structure, Programming, Installation, and Maintenance (TC30P) - April 11-15, 2011
• Overview of Grounding and Noise Reduction for Control Equipment (TI21C) - April 12, 2011
• PROFINET One-day Training Class (Mt. Laurel, NJ) April 12, 2011
• Introduction to Industrial Automation Security and the ANSI/ISA99 Standards (IC32C) - April 13, 2011
• An Introduction to Safety Instrumented Systems (EC50C) - April 13, 2011
• Burner Management Systems Engineering Using NFPA Code 85 and ANSI/ISA77 Standards (ES16) - April 14-15, 2011
• Scientific Automation Seminar - Dallas/Fort Worth - April 19, 2011
• Applying Instrumentation in Hazardous (Classified) Locations (ES10) - April 19-20, 2011
• The ISA95 Object Models for Enterprise Control Integration, Part 2: Application Example (IC55CW2) - April 19-20, 2011
• Scientific Automation Seminar - Oklahoma City - April 20, 2011
• Scientific Automation Seminar - Houston - April 21, 2011
• Introduction to Industrial Automation and Control (FG07) - May 2-6, 2011
• Implementing Wireless Industrial Automation Systems (IC85E) - Online - May 2 - June 24, 2011

See our Calendar of Events for other upcoming events and training. Add an event to our calendar.

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