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Read the online version if links don't work in this Embedded Automation Update. |
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March 2009 |
Sponsor: Softing |
Softing offers protocol software
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The flexibility of an FPGA considerably simplifies the design of a reconfigurable communication interface. Reconfigure the FPGA on-the-fly and support today's multitude of industrial communication protocols. Softing offers protocol software (as IP cores) for EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, EtherCAT, Modbus/TCP, and other communication protocols that are already optimized for various operating systems that run within Altera's NIOS-II-Kernel on a Cyclone III. No time for a custom design? Take advantage of Softing's FPGA-based communication board and industry-hardened IP cores.
Click here for more information
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Sponsor: National Instruments |
Mechatronics Machine Design Technical Library
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Explore the mechatronics resources from National Instruments. The National Instruments Mechatronics Design Technical Library is your free online resource for learning about mechatronics development techniques, example programs, share with the online developer community and examine best practices.
View the library
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Sponsor: Moxa |
Moxa UC-8410, a RISC-based high performance, low power consumption, and rich connectivity embedded computer
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The UC-8410 comes with 8 RS-232/422/485 serial ports, 3 Ethernet ports, 4 digital input channels, 4 digital output channels, a CompactFlash socket, and 2 USB 2.0 hosts. Available now!
Click here for more information
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| In this Issue |
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| Featured Articles |
High Performance Computing: Pursuing Innovation In Tough Times
Manufacturing.Net, January 2009
By David Graff, Microsoft
One way in which manufacturers can innovate during tough times is by using high performance computing (HPC) technology to simulate real-world scenarios and products, saving materials and labor costs. An HPC cluster contains a group of connected computers that simultaneously work on a job, delivering results more quickly and cost effectively than a standalone system.
Industrial Quality Adds Up vs. Commercial
Industrial Networking, February 2009
By Phil Burgert
The extra cost of industrial-grade network components sometimes can be a problem for designers of manufacturing networks. They might be encouraged to learn that a surprising number of vendors will endorse some limited use of less-expensive, commercially available products.
Parallel Programming Makes Most of Multicore Processors
Automation World, January 2009
By Gary Mintchell
Traditional logic has been sequential—that is, a program executes one step at a time. But today’s increasingly complex systems often require several things to happen at the same time and then be brought together.
Picking a Controller Technology
Control Engineering, December 2008
By C.G. Masi
Unlike traditional control-system technologies, such as PLCs, PACs, and PC-based systems, embedded control provides a wide choice of controller targets. Microcontrollers are the best known, but this tutorial shows how ASICs and FPGAs provide unique advantages as well.
Multicore processors: Providing opportunities for embedded systems designers
Embedded Computing Design, November 2008
By Paul Fischer, TenAsys
The big news in processor development is how CPU manufacturers are now standardizing on multicore processor technology. While most of the software community has focused on server applications, developers of embedded computing applications can also benefit from multicore processors.
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| Sponsored Product by Acresso |
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Monetize Your Embedded Software
Use licensing to…expand into new markets, enable flexible device configuration and reduce manufacturing costs.
Learn How — Read White Paper Now!
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| Product Announcements |
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| Other Product Announcements
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| White Papers |
How High-Tech Device Manufacturers Are Using Embedded Software to Grow Revenue
By Acresso
Protecting a software R&D investment is critical to monetizing platforms and ensuring a steady revenue stream. This whitepaper describes how to use electronic license management technology to protect and enhance products, and how to distribute updates and upgrades to already deployed devices.
A Safe Passage through the Real-Time Maze
By Frank Iwanitz and Wolfgang Langer, Softing
Field device manufacturers are looking for solutions that facilitate the design of devices to support the multitude of communication protocols required in today’s automation systems. FPGAs (Field-programmable Gate Arrays) represent an answer to this search.
Switched Ethernet Latency Analysis
By GE Fanuc
Switches will drop packets as soon as their memory and FIFOs fill up, and TCP and UDP protocols used over Ethernet are notorious for generating bursty traffic patterns. It is important to plan for lower than maximum network utilization. Calculations in this paper give an example of how worst case latency in a Switched Ethernet network can be estimated.
Next-generation wireless technology advances asset management
Industrial Embedded Systems, November 2008
By Scott D. Constien, Enfora
A new class of GPS-enabled, wireless-networked asset management modules with integrated tracking application software is changing the way assets can be located in organizations.
The Secret Behind Wide Temperature Technology
By Abel Lee, et al, Moxa
Wide temperature industrial computers generally have an operating temperature range of -40 to 75°C. Designing such a computer requires a full understanding of the product’s thermal gradient to optimize the placement of components inside the computer.
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| Resources & Literature |
Free NI Measurement and Automation Catalog
The National Instruments catalog is the leading virtual instrumentation resource for engineers and scientists seeking the most productive customer-defined software and hardware tools.
Advantech product selection guides, solution or product catalogs, case studies
Advantech offers a number of solution guides, product selection guides, catalogs and case studies - many are available in PDF format. The eAutomation Solutions Catalog introduces a full range of products, focusing on the following vertical sectors: Machine Automation, Power & Energy, Building Automation, Environment Monitoring Systems, Intelligent Transportation Systems, and Facility Management Systems.
B&B Electronics publishes Winter 2009 catalog
Catalog covers Modbus/TCP Ethernet, Gigabit and PoE Ethernet switches, media converters, wireless modems, serial converters, plus digital and analog remote I/O.
EPLAN announces Web-based Portal
EPLAN Data Portal streamlines the integration of device data into the design process, providing the user with access to data from many major component manufacturers.
Daintree Networks introduces wireless application development kits
Kits let developers take individual ZigBee smart products (such as lights, heating and cooling, and security) and turn them into smart energy solutions and services.
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Browse more resources and literature on the Embedded Automation portal.
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| Application Stories |
Out of sight, not out of reach
By Softing
Clariant, a plastics manufacturer in Gersthofen, Germany, used a Profibus Ethernet gateway and FDT to connect to HART devices in hazardous areas and won the HART plant of the year award.
Software Interprets between Rockwell Automation and Siemens
By Softing
Krones, a packaging manufacturer, uses control systems based on Siemens and Rockwell Automation equipment. Using Softing software, Krones can communicate between Simatic, ControlLogix, CompactLogix, PLC-5 and SLC-500 controllers.
Open-source Software Controlling Japan’s Top Particle Accelerator
Control Engineering, December 2008
By Shin Kai
The KEK B-factory double-ring electron-positron collider in Japan has begun using Linux-based PLCs and open source EPICs software for beam mask and magnet controls.
Amcor PET Packaging Streamlines Plant Operations with Kepware
By Kepware
Amcor, a maker of packaging solutions from corrugated board to blister packs and bottles, installed a KepwareEX server to connect Wonderware, Siemens, Allen Bradley and Apriso/SAP applications into a single network via OPC.
Data acquisition embedded in the Antarctic ice sheet
Embedded Computing Design, November 2008
By Justin Vandenbroucke, Univ of California, Berkeley
Embedded technologies help researchers control, monitor, and acquire data from systems located at an almost completely inaccessible site where winter temperatures sometimes reach -80 °C.
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Browse more application stories on the Embedded Automation portal.
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| Featured Training |
Embedded Systems tutorials - 01/29/09
March 30-April 3, 2009 San Jose, California
Free tutorials cover embedded system security, Real-Time Operating System implementation, and "The Worst Embedded Code Ever Written."
Netrino to use IAR software in embedded systems training
Netrino’s Embedded Software Boot Camp training course will use IAR Systems’ visualSTATE design tool.
Opto 22 announces Logix I/O seminar dates
The seminar describes benefits of adding SNAP I/O to Allen-Bradley PLC and PAC systems.
Netrino offers Embedded Systems Training Courses
Netrino announced its Winter schedule of training courses, including Developing Effective Coding Standards, Embedded Software Boot Camp and Multithreaded RTOS Programming.
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Browse more training and seminar opportunities on the Embedded Automation portal.
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| Company & Organizational News |
Snapshot of EMEA Wireless Comes in Focus
Industrial Networking, February 2009
By Mike Bacidore
Unlike in the U.S., adoption of wireless technology is more common in discrete manufacturing industries than process in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to data from global research firm Frost & Sullivan.
Quantum3D names Alan Commike Chief Technology Officer
Alan Commike has been promoted to the position of CTO. Commike joined the company in 2006, and was software platform manager.
ITTIA DB-SQL runs on Freescale i.MX processors
DB-SQL relational database and i.MX application processors offer design engineers a solution for portable devices.
InduSoft names Dave Hellyer sales manager
Hellyer previously held management positions at Iconics, CI Technologies (Citect), and Total Control Products.
McObject eXtremeDB database receives IBM validation
eXtremeDB in-memory and on-disk embedded database has received IBM’s “Ready for IBM Rational Software” validation.
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Browse more company and organizational news on the Embedded Automation portal. |
| Featured Events |
SCADA & Industrial Automation 2009
March 23-24, 2009 Melbourne, Australia
Conference provides best practice case studies on the latest technologies, trends and challenges in the area of SCADA, Industrial security, automation and process control.
Image Sensors Europe 2009
March 24-26, 2009 London, UK
Addresses the latest trends and technologies within the image sensors industry and the most advanced application areas including security, surveillance, broadcasting, medical equipment, machine vision and automotive.
Embedded Systems Conference
March 30-April 3, 2009 San Jose, CA
ESC Silicon Valley brings together system architects, design engineers, suppliers, analysts and media from across the globe, including Asia and the Pacific Rim.
International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control
April 13- 15, 2009 San Francisco, CA
Papers cover areas pertaining to the analysis, design, control, optimization, implementation, and applications of hybrid systems, including: Real-time computing and control; Embedded and resource-aware control; and Computation and control over wireless networks.
NIWeek Worldwide Graphical System Design Conference and Exhibition
August 4-6, 2009 - Austin Convention Center, Austin, Texas
National Instruments' NIWeek 2009 offers three days of interactive technical sessions, targeted summits, hands-on workshops and exhibitions on the latest developments for design, control, automation, manufacturing and test. The conference also features keynote presentations and demonstrations that highlight how engineers and scientists can use NI graphical system design to test, measure and fix inefficient products and processes to improve everyday life.
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Add an event to our calendar. |
I hope you enjoyed this Embedded Automation update. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the content in this e-newsletter or on Automation.com, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher
Automation.com
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