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White Papers on Automation, Process Control & Instrumentation Topics

The following white papers on topics, technologies, solutions and platforms relating to industrial automation, process control, and instrumentation are written and contributed by various industry professionals and suppliers and are considered premium content on Automation.com. You may also browse our Automation Portals for these and more white papers, orgainized by topic. Automation.com is not responsible for any statements contained within these white papers.

		Why Can’t We Be Friends? By Stanley Liu, Moxa This white paper explores how selecting the correct solution allows existing IT departments to easily deploy and monitor the full range of available industrial automation devices for server room monitoring, without complicated integration obstacles or additional training requirements.

		Sample Code for Embedded Applications By Dr. CF Lin, Moxa Software developers should always be on the lookout for ways to ensure that products are developed quickly, but at the same time are also reliable and cost-effective. A simple yet very effective way of doing this is to rely on sample code when getting started with a project.

		Using Industrial Ethernet in the Oil and Gas Industry By Flanker Kuo, Moxa Drilling for, transporting, storing, refining, and exporting oil and natural gas remain incredibly complicated undertakings and require a great deal of industrial automation. Industrial Ethernet solutions can play an important role.

		Using Embedded Computers to Manage Your Solar Power System By Ella Liao, Moxa Computers play an essential role in solar power systems, particularly when it comes to maximizing energy efficiency. Here are three examples.

		One Gateway That Can Do It All By Jason Fan, Moxa This papers concentrates on DF1 and EtherNet/IP, and how to convert between these Fieldbus protocols using a new generation of DF1 and EtherNet/IP communication gateways.

		Choosing a Multiport Serial Board for Serial Communication By Casper Yan, Moxa Since computers come equipped with a limited number of serial ports, multiport serial boards (MSB) are needed to expand the number of ports to connect additional peripheral devices. Although choosing an MSB may seem like a simple task at first, you may encounter problems.

		Turbo Chain: A New Recovery System Beyond Ethernet Redundant Ring Technology By Sean Wang, Moxa This white paper will explore the various challenges presented by existing redundant networking technologies and introduce a new redundant solution that resolves many existing problems.

		Dual-RF Wireless Redundancy By Jackie Shi, Moxa This paper explains the traditional single-RF (single radio frequency) and dual-RF (dual radio frequency) wireless architectures, and show what Moxa provides in the way of dual-RF technology.

		Automation and the Smart Grid: Energy Management Today By Opto 22 This white paper takes a look at electrical power in the United States today, investigates the nature of the Smart Grid, and suggests ways that small and medium-sized companies can - without waiting for future technological development - gather energy data and control electrical energy costs today.

		Information Strategies for Manufacturing Sustainability By GE Intelligent Platforms Manufacturers can greatly benefit from an integrated “big picture” view of their operations, whereby they can measure environmental factors alongside other operational metrics to gain visibility into where they may be disrupting stable processes, or conversely, where they are accepting waste simply because they do not realize it.

		Facilities Management Solutions By Jim Bishop, Wonderware The biggest problem in building automation, identified by organizations like LonMark and Echelon, is the proprietary distribution models offered by established Building Automation System (BAS) suppliers. This white paper describes Wonderware’s Facilities Management Software Solution.

		OPC UA: 5 Things Everyone Needs To Know By Eric Murphy, Matrikon What exactly is OPC UA and what does it mean to you? When will products be ready? Can you implement it and should you be doing it now? Not to mention questions about security, scalability and backwards compatibility. These questions are best summed up in the five things everyone needs to know about OPC UA.

		Avoiding the Pitfalls with Industrial Managed Switches By Paul Wacker, Advantech Ethernet can be successfully applied in a plant – if the proper steps, and some care, are taken. This white paper looks at how industrial managed switches, together with the right network topology and an understanding of failure modes, can lead to almost 100 percent network uptime.

		Mapping of the OMAC PackML State Diagram to IEC 61131-3 By PLCOpen White paper describes how to implement the OMAC PackML state Version 3.0 as defined by www.Make2Pack.org. One way to do this is to use Sequential Function Chart, SFC.

		Advantages of a PC Based HART Communicator By Michael B. Fersky, ProComSol The HART Foundation’s SDC-625 standard defines PC-based HART communicators, and all DDs must comply with it. So what’s the difference between a $7,000 handheld HART communicator and a PC-based one?

		Tuning the Forgotten Loop By Steve Rubin, Longwatch The “forgotten loop” has been the operator, who is typically trained to “average” parameters to run adequately under most steady-state conditions. “Advanced tuning” of the operator could yield even better outputs, with higher quality, fewer errors and a wider response to fluctuating operating conditions. This paper explores the issue of improving operator actions, and a method for doing so.

		Improving Traceability With Work Process Management in Food and Beverage Manufacturing By Greg Millinger and Alicia Bowers, GE Intelligent Platforms This white paper discusses how electronic work process management offers a way to greatly improve traceability by digitizing and documenting both manual and automated processes – and ensuring compliance with HACCP procedures and SOPs.

		Conformal Coated Industrial Ethernet Switch Protects Mission Critical Applications By Ethernet Direct In mission critical and harsh environments like where most Industrial hardened Ethernet switches are deployed, conformal coating acts as protection against moisture, dust, chemicals, and temperature extremes that if non-protected could result in a complete failure of the electronic system. These applications include mining, metal industries, oil & gas, military applications, chemical processing and food and beverage industries.

		The “Logic” of Single Loop Logic Solvers By Moore Industries Until recently, the thought of a safety system conjured up images of Triple Modular Redundant (TMR) systems that represent enormous capital expenditures. Today, however, manufacturers offer safety-certified devices that can be integrated into cost-effective solutions. One simple, economical, yet highly dependable option is using a Safety Trip Alarm as a Single Loop Logic Solver.

		Six Sigma: What? Why? How? By Dataforth Six Sigma uses statistical analysis to quantitatively measure how a process is performing. That process can involve manufacturing, business practices, products, or service. To be defined as Six Sigma means that the process does not produce more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO) – which translates to 99.9997% efficiency.

		Wind Turbines Today By Dataforth For wind turbines to remain both operable and in safe condition, components must be accurately monitored and assessed while being continuously protected. Sensors are used to measure as many as 500 parameters in a modern wind turbine.

		Using HMIs to Lower Your Cost of Ownership By Hector Lin, Advantech The Windows- or Linux-based HMI is essentially replacing the standard operator panel, even as an embedded controller in devices like variable frequency drives, and PLCs or PACs, and has set the standard for operator interfaces now and in the future.

		Key Corporate IT Capabilities for Manufacturing Operations By Yves Dufort and Claus Abildgren, Wonderware How Manufacturing IT is viewed and managed in an organization plays an important role in how IT is leveraged for strategic value. Because the management of Manufacturing IT can be enormously complex and becoming more intricate on a daily basis, organizations need to constantly seek to optimize its use.

		Understanding and Minimizing Your HMI/SCADA System Security Gaps By GE Intelligent Platforms Understanding and minimizing the security gaps in your HMI/SCADA system can be a challenge due to complex, multi-layered technologies. This white paper describes where vulnerabilities within an HMI/SCADA system may lie, and how companies can take proactive steps to address susceptible areas such as the software technology and communications elements through security-based software capabilities to protect their systems.

		Save space and costs with compact panel meters By Red Lion Panel meter development has remained relatively static the last few years. Today, new, cost-efficient devices with more advanced capabilities are available in a smaller package to accompany today's miniaturization trend.

		Motion Control Components and System Architecture By Erlendur Kristjansson, Performance Motion Devices This 24-page paper compares how motion control solutions based on chips, cards, and drives fit into different machine requirements, and how they affect the outcome of a machine design. This paper also examines motion system architectures to illustrate the design trade-offs. Examples discussed include medical/biotech equipment, a 3D printer, and an industrial paper-cutting machine.

		The Benefits of PAC Solutions By John Wilhite, Advantech PACs are now used for process control, data acquisition, remote monitoring, machine vision and motion control. Because PACs are special purpose versions of PCs, they share the on-board capabilities of networking over standard networks such as Ethernet with their desk-mounted cousins.

		Benefits of FF HSE with ABB System 800xA By David Huffman, ABB FOUNDATION Fieldbus High Speed Ethernet (FF HSE) has been a technology available to automation system suppliers since 1999, but very few suppliers have provided the full features and functionality to their clients. This white paper explains how ABB System 800xA uses FF HSE more extensively than other control systems.

		The Importance Of Hipot Isolation On Industrial Ethernet Switches By Ethernet Direct Without HIPOT protection, the un-normal current which caused by surge will damage end devices via the RJ-45 port. HIPOT tests are helpful in finding nicked or crushed insulation, stray wire strands or braided shielding, conductive or corrosive contaminants around the conductors, terminal spacing problems, and tolerance errors in communication cable.

		A Recipe for Success By GE Intelligent Platforms This paper explores the use of today’s recipe software solutions as a part of a control strategy to transform a company’s recipe area from a place of contentious schedule adherence and “roll-of-the-dice quality” to one that can reduce waste while increasing quality.

		Upgrading Your DCS: Why You May Need to Do It Sooner Than You Think By Chad Harper, MAVERICK Technologies The decision to upgrade a DCS is like the decision to upgrade your laptop or PC. Transferring files and programs is never easy, but using an outdated machine is even more of a chore. Support grows obsolete, old systems prove incompatible with new products, and speed and storage become major problems. Efficiency suffers as a result.

		Secure OPC Tunneling: Know Your Options By Software Toolbox & Cogent Real-Time Systems Anyone who has attempted to network OPC knows that it is challenging, at best. There are many options and solutions in the market that attempt to solve this challenge. This whitepaper shows how tunneling technologies solve the issues associated with networking OPC and what to look for in a tunneling product.

		Alarm Trips: The Ups and Downs By Moore Industries White paper contains information on the various types of alarm trips, effective applications, and safety factors and other considerations when implementing an alarm trip strategy.

		Honeywell I-MAC Provides Path to Operational Excellence By ARC Honeywell expands the concept of MAC with its Integrated MAC (I-MAC) concept that provides value in the form of operational, business, and project readiness from the early stages of a project through the operational phase of the plant.

		Best Practices to Support and Maintain Advanced Solutions By Honeywell Process Solutions There are potential challenges and pitfalls of supporting advanced solutions across the areas of process optimization, blending, alarm management, asset management, manufacturing execution systems, and more. This paper describes best practices that help avoid them.

		Mechatronics Machine Design Guide By National Instruments With this comprehensive machine design guide, learn step-by-step best practices for designing your next machine. Throughout the guide, in-depth application examples illustrate the approaches successful designers have implemented.

		Capital Ideas for the Times By Wayne Filichowski, AVS Systems Manufacturers must free working capital and re-commission fixed assets. This white paper discusses five capital ideas for optimizing manufacturing performance including: Pull working capital out of operations; raise fixed asset turnover rates; go green; optimize total cost of quality; and fully utilize human capital.

		Driving Continuous Improvement Through Delay Accounting By Paul Cooper, Schneider Electric Experience has shown that while a delay accounting system's integrity may be sound, if the correct workflow breaks down (possibly because of data flooding) or if the data is simply perceived to be incorrect, the underlying system is often incorrectly considered the cause.

		Making the Smart Grid Work By IP Huang, Advantech IEC 61850 was developed for communications between substations, internal communications within substations, and communications between various parts of the grid and the central control system for that portion of the grid. The key benefits expected to derive from IEC 61850 are exceptional interconnectivity, using one worldwide protocol, along with easy interoperability between systems and devices from different vendors.

		Divide and Conquer: Multi-Core Processors and Automation Applications By John Wilhite and Tiger Yeh, Advantech White paper looks at why multi-core processors were developed, explores the characteristics of an industrial automation computer, examines what features a multi-core system should have, and then details the advantages a multi-core system offers for automation applications.

		Video Transmission Using Cellular Gateways By Greg Santos, Longwatch By using cellular technology, video can be transmitted from remote sites to HMI/SCADA systems at a relatively low cost. Includes guidelines on cellular services, how to set up a cellular system, and lists of resources.

		Applying Wireless to EtherNet/IP Automation Systems By Gary Enstad & Jim Ralston, Prosoft Technology While EtherNet/IP has many advantages, cable installation is often expensive, and communications to remote sites or moving platforms may not be reliable or cost-effective. Wireless Ethernet technologies have emerged that can now reliably reduce network costs while improving plant production.

		Improving Flow Measurement Using PLC Flow Computing By Jim Ralston & Scott Monton, Prosoft Technology Paper explores embedding hydrocarbon flow computer technology into PLCs for integrated measurement, control and communications.

		Force, strain and pressure transducers based on foil type strain gauges By André Schäfer, Hottinger Baldwin Messtechnik The strain gauge, in the classic shape as a foil-type strain gauge, is perfectly dedicated for the measurement of pressure, force, load or torque. If a suitable measuring body shape is chosen and a good compromise between solidity and sensitivity of the construction is found, there is no better solution around.

		Inexpensive Methods to Measure the Performance Characteristics of a Linear Motion Device By Rob Steves, Zaber Technologies Once you've determined the requirements of your linear motion application, how can you qualify a linear motion product to ensure it meets your application's needs? This article describes a series of tests that can be performed by the average user to quickly determine the most important performance characteristics of linear motion systems.

		Smart Automation, Smart Building By Ethernet Direct Brief paper describes the elements of Building Automation Systems, including a diagram that shows how it all fits together

		Proactive DeviceNet Monitoring through Innovative Technologies By Michael Frayne, Molex DeviceNet is a robust fieldbus with millions of nodes installed globally; however, there can be issues. Here’s how to extend preventive maintenance methodology to your plant fieldbus network.

		New Generation Programmable Automation Controller Brief white paper compares PLCs vs PACs and describes features and benefits of Ethernet Direct’s SME programmable automation controller (PAC).

		Motorola’s Manufacturing RFID Solutions RFID can impact the entire manufacturing process from receiving raw goods to transferring or shipping finished products by improving inventory visibility to feed just-in-time systems, allowing manufacturers to make faster, better and smarter decisions. This white paper contains three case histories: Purdue Pharma, Boeing and a CPG manufacturer.

		PROFIsafe: Networked Safety for Process and Factory Automation By ARC Advisory Group Safety has evolved from being a cost burden to a strategy for improving productivity and reducing downtime. PROFIsafe allows seamless communication of safety data independent of network media. Automation users are now taking advantage of these solutions to unify their network while maintaining conformity with safety standards up to SIL3.

		Embracing the Benefits of Integrated Safety By Siemens Thanks to the easing of restrictions that once kept software-based safety systems out of automation, manufacturers now are able to move away from standalone, dedicated equipment to integrated solutions that allow safety functions and automation and control operations to run on the same system. A compelling case exists for letting go of the hardwired equipment that has defined manufacturing safety systems to this point and embracing an integrated approach.

		Color Contrast And Luminescence Sensors By EMX Industries Although there are many types of sensors including ultrasonic, photoelectric, capacitive and inductive, this discussion will focus on specialty photoelectric sensors. This paper is intended to guide the reader through the process of selecting the right sensor to achieve a reliable solution to their automation control needs.

		The Rise of the Programmable Automation Controller By John Wilhite, Advantech In the past decade, programmable automation computers have proved themselves, leveraged themselves on COTS hardware and software, and become rugged, reliable, versatile, and ubiquitous. Often it is not possible to tell the difference between a PLC and a PAC, from the outside. It is only when you get to see the advantages built into a PAC from the inside out that you can tell.

		Power over Ethernet: Myths, Mystery, and the Facts By Paul Wacker, Advantech PoE is a technology that permits a standard Ethernet connection to transmit both data and power over a single Cat5 cable. Currently, industrial PoE applications are limited mainly to wireless access points, video surveillance cameras, and machine vision systems, but sensor applications are not far off. As industrial controls manufacturers continue to embrace Power over Ethernet, more devices will be designed to be PoE compliant.

		GE: The Advantages of Plant-wide Historians vs. Relational Databases By GE Intelligent Platforms While relational databases (RDBs) are designed to manage relationships between contextualized data, plantwide historians are built specifically for manufacturing and process data acquisition and presentation. They offer key advantages over RDBs, including built-in data collection capabilities, faster speeds, higher data compression, robust redundancy, enhanced data security and quicker time to value.

		Meeting the Challenge of Three Global Manufacturing Imperatives By Doug Lawson, Incuity Manufacturers must make intelligent business decisions at or near real-time speeds. This whitepaper highlights the challenges that all manufacturers face in today's global marketplace and shows through real world examples how Business Intelligence for Manufacturing (BI4M) can help meet those challenges.

		Using the NI 17xx Smart Camera Direct Drive Lighting Controller By National Instruments The use of proper lighting is often overlooked when designing a machine vision application. More robust and accurate inspections can be achieved when appropriate lighting techniques are utilized. This application note discusses considerations when selecting lighting equipment and demonstrates how to utilize the Direct Drive lighting controller feature on the NI 17xx Smart Camera with LabVIEW or Vision Builder for Automated Inspection.

		Improving PID Controller Performance By National Instruments PID control is the most commonly used control algorithm in the industry today. PID controller popularity can be attributed to the controller’s effectiveness in a wide range of operation conditions, its functional simplicity, and the ease with which engineers can implement it using current computer technology. This paper covers some of the PID drawbacks and how to resolve them while improving performance in current implementations through changes in the algorithm.

		Green Engineering - Improving the Environment and the Bottom Line By National Instruments Engineers and scientists worldwide are leading the charge to address one of the largest challenges society faces, and they have the unique opportunity to make a bigger impact on the environment than any government policy. Green engineering provides the tools, techniques, and technologies to foster this innovation.

		Custom Controller or COTS? Step-by-step guide to making the right choice By ARC OEMs typically have two choices, to develop "green boards," which are internally designed custom controllers, or to apply COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) micro PLCs. This whitepaper will examine some of the important and sometimes overlooked factors involved in choosing between a custom controller and a COTS micro PLC.

		Five Things to Think About Before Using Hardwired Controls Again By ARC For most OEMs, programmable relays can serve as a very cost effective controller for their products. This paper is written to help OEMs determine the "real cost" of using traditional hardwired controls by comparing it to the "real cost" of using commercially available programmable relays.

		Is there one controller that can do it all? By Bob Nelson, Siemens Energy & Automation Complete analysis of PLC vs. PAC, along with other embedded and PC-based automation controllers. Evaluate new and existing controller technologies to save time and money.

		Prevent 24 VDC overloads from stopping production By Kai Bronzel, Siemens Advanced technologies require more intelligent protection. For today’s preferred switched mode power supplies, it means that circuit breakers and fuses are inadequate for protecting individual 24 VDC load circuits.

		Using Appliance Transaction Modules to Enable Tracking and Tracing By Alex Cuningham, Online Development Appliance transaction modules provide a simple, yet effective method to connect dissimilar devices, PLCs, PACs, controllers and computer systems for a wide variety of tracking and tracing applications. They enable the development of specific event-based, bidirectional transactions between different brands and types of products without programming. Intuitive screens in the setup utility, as well as drag and drop configuration, make startup fast and easy.

		Diagnostic Tools for PROFIBUS and PROFINET By Softing The most common problems of PROFIBUS networks are faulty cabling or connectors causing poor signal quality levels. In order to detect and identify those kinds of issues an engineer can either use an oscilloscope (and lots of experience) or an Electrical Tester for PROFIBUS that makes the job much easier.

		Benefits of State Based Control By David A. Huffman, ABB State Based Control results in productivity increases, higher asset utilization of both people and process, automated responses and recovery for abnormal conditions and provides an environment for knowledge capture directly into the control design.

		Motion Control Cards For Machine Design By Erlendur Kristjansson, Performance Motion Devices This white paper looks at the different motion control card form factors, their fit into different machine requirements, and how they affect the outcome of a machine design. The paper also examines the interaction between the motion cards and the system architectures to illustrate design trade-offs.

		Energy Efficiency: How Everyone Can Generate Negawatts By Don Frieden, Wonderware An organization can reduce their energy consumption in two primary ways. First, they can reduce their level of production. The second is retrofitting existing assets and modifying current work processes.

		PoE Switches for Industrial Networking By Alvis Chen, Moxa PoE (Power over Ethernet) is one of the hottest topics in Ethernet networking applications today. This white paper discusses the basics of PoE technology and the new 802.3at standard, followed by a review of the required functions and benefits of adopting PoE switches for industrial networking.

		Adding Process Control to a PLC-based System By Opto 22 Today's automation applications are less narrowly defined than in the past. Today, both discrete control and process control are often required to get the job done. Because of the architectural differences between a PLC-based system and a DCS, approaching a hybrid system from the PLC side can offer some challenges.

		Using Intelligent SNAP I/O with Allen-Bradley Logix Systems By Opto 22 Technical note introduces concepts to help add SNAP I/O to an A-B PLC system. It describes SNAP I/O, discusses explicit and implicit messaging, and provides some architectural details of implicit messaging, the more common method of communication.

		Visibility, Enablement, and Process Innovation for a Mobile Workforce By Wonderware In a modern plant, the right time to view information is not when you are standing in front of an operator console. It is when you are in the field, in front of a failing piece of equipment or discussing a problem while on the move. More often than not, the right way to deliver information is by putting it in the hands of a mobile worker.

		Removable Storage Media Add Flexibility to PLCs By Mark DeCramer, WAGO An interface to removable storage media, such as USB memory devices and CompactFlash, are providing flexibility never before realized in PLC architectures. Because these devices are capable of holding gigabytes of data, years of collected data can be stored to a single device.

		How High-Tech Device Manufacturers Are Using Embedded Software to Grow Revenue By Flexera Software 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.

		Achieving Operational Excellence in Pharma Manufacturing By GE Intelligent Platforms By applying intelligence to process data and introducing science into the analysis of process information, organizations can drive more competitive advantage into their manufacturing operations. Results include reduced inventory levels, cycle time, WIP inventory, and finished goods inventory.

		Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) for Achieving Consumer Packaging Excellence By GE Intelligent Platforms Manufacturers that have the ability to efficiently analyze their data across their plant and to accurately associate events with a specific cause in real time will gain key insight into their operations to achieve packaging excellence and ultimately, a sustainable advantage for success.

		Using Controls Standards to Accelerate Continuous Improvement Initiatives By GE Intelligent Platforms The OMAC Packaging Workgroup (OPW) has released their PackTags and PackML standards, which define naming conventions and “structural” guidelines that ensure consistency in the way the building blocks of code are used and described.

		Meeting NERC Change Control Requirements for HMI/SCADA and Control Systems By GE Intelligent Platforms NERC’s standards for Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) apply to various critical assets, and this paper demonstrates how Change Control principles can help protect two specific asset types: SCADA and control systems.

		Next Generation of Embedded Computing Platforms By Hector Lin, Advantech Corporation, Industrial Automation Group What does the current iteration of Moore’s Law hold for embedded computing? Not only have speed and computational power gone up exponentially, and cost dropped the same way, other improvements have increased, too.

		Enterprise Mobility for Manufacturing Whitepaper By Motorola Enterprise mobility has emerged as a top strategic initiative among leading global organizations. This white paper provides insight into the advantages gained by deploying mobile solutions in manufacturing. The paper reveals how manufacturing firms have empowered their workers with mobile solutions and significantly increased their effectiveness. Based on feedback from over 6,000 decision-makers and more than 2,500 mobile workers, the white paper addresses key questions.

		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.

		The Business of Manufacturing 2 By John Theron, Incuity Many enterprises deploy sophisticated business systems that aren’t aligned with the plant floor. it’s difficult not only to integrate different types of automation solutions but it’s also difficult to link the plant floor with the management office.

		The Business of Manufacturing 1 By John Theron, Incuity How to take the gigabytes or terabytes of time-series data that are generated on a plant floor and convert it all into meaningful information.

		ISA-95: A Foundation Model For Business Intelligence for Manufacturing By John Theron, Incuity Although the ISA-95 standard was designed originally to facilitate information exchange, it also can be used as a model for organizing manufacturing information as part of a business intelligence solution.

		Expanding Allen-Bradley Logix Systems with Intelligent Remote I/O By Opto 22 With the new options provided by intelligent remote I/O, expanding an Allen-Bradley Logix system is no longer a dilemma. Instead, it's an opportunity to add functionality and explore opportunities while staying within your current system and within budget.

		Industrial Ethernet…more than just another fieldbus system By Wago With industrial protocols like Modbus/TCP, EtherNet/IP, and PROFInet process data is sent over standard, off-the-shelf Ethernet hardware. No longer are users forced to buy proprietary fieldbus components from a handful of vendors.

		Integrating Next Generation Motion Control with Programmable Automation Controllers By GE Intelligent Platforms White paper discusses recent trends that have led to the need for PACs, benefits of integrating the latest generation of motion control with PACs, and the critical capabilities OEMs should assess when selecting such an integrated automation control system.

		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.

		Maritime Security: Meeting Threats to the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry By Honeywell Process Solutions A major issue for worldwide energy companies is securing offshore oil and gas platforms. This paper covers the challenges faced by the oil & gas industry in securing offshore production assets, including key requirements for an effective platform security strategy, and the latest technology enabling an integrated security management system.

		Establishing Change Management for Your HMI/SCADA System By GE Intelligent Platforms There are more to costs than just those incurred through project development and ongoing maintenance. Change management technology offers an automated way to help an organization assess, monitor, manage, control—and lower—project costs as well as ongoing maintenance costs of HMI/SCADA and control systems. Registration required.

		Introduction to OPC for Building Automation By Darek Kominek, Matrikon HMIs, historians, and analysis and reporting packages that originate in the process control industry may not have drivers that support such protocols as BACnet or other building automation protocols. OPC can solve the problem.

		Implementing Successful OPC Projects By Eric Murphy, MatrikonOPC The issues associated with OPC projects include multiple data paths, data throughput, guaranteed data delivery and redundancy, network interoperability, communication disruption and recovery, maintainability and geographically disperse systems.

		Digitize Work Processes with Industrial Workflow Execution By GE Intelligent Platforms Workflows are a key element to connecting and managing flexible work processes that can be very dynamic. By leveraging a common reference model and workflow engine layered on with transformational innovation specifically to improve production operations, companies can enable workflows to execute across many systems. (Registration required)

		Creating Secure OPC Architectures By Adriel Michaud, MatrikonOPC Technical guide on how to secure typical OPC implementations. It covers OPC DA, HDA, and A&E, securing OPC Servers from unauthorized OPC Client access, and restricting authorized OPC Clients to only the functions necessary.

		Considerations for Choosing a Programmable Automation Controller By Opto 22 Many automation manufacturers are offering PACs now, and the capabilities of these controllers vary. When you’re choosing programmable automation controllers for your application, here are some considerations to keep in mind.

		Improving Plant Production with Wireless Condition Monitoring by Jim Ralston, ProSoft Technology Mechanical failure of motors, drives and other vital electromechanical equipment are among the most common reasons for production stoppages. Fortunately, recent advancements in vibration monitoring and data analysis have lead to condition monitoring systems that can accurately detect a problem before failure, thus reducing costly machine shutdowns and maximizing production output.

		Using Operator Interfaces to Optimize Performance of Industrial Wireless Networks By Jim Ralston, Prosoft Technology This article will explore the use of a wireless diagnostic OLE for Process Control (OPC) server technology to embed diagnostic information in human machine interfaces (HMIs), thus optimizing industrial wireless network performance.

		Understanding Programmable Automation Controllers (PACs) in Industrial Automation By Opto 22 This white paper describes the advent of the programmable automation controller (PAC) and its use in modern industrial applications.

		Programmable Automation Controllers Find Their Niche...Everywhere! By Advantech In the beginning there were relays, and hardwired controllers. A generation ago, digital electronics made the hardwired relay and controller obsolete in favor of the PLC, the programmable logic controller. But PLCs are limited. Several companies have produced a powerful and useful hybrid of the programmable controller and the PC. This device is generally called a PAC, or programmable automation controller.

		Introduction to Fieldbus By Moore Hawk Fieldbus is simple. So simple, you'll wonder what all the fuss is all about. In this white paper, we'll stick to the two basic fieldbuses used in process control: PROFIBUS PA and FOUNDATION fieldbus H1. We'll cover how fieldbus works, show how to connect instruments, and explain why - in most cases - you can't connect all 32 instruments on a single fieldbus segment as all the advertising claims. We will also talk about the differences between PROFIBUS and FOUNDATION fieldbus, FISCO vs. Entity intrinsically-safe fieldbus systems, installing redundant segments, and EDDL vs. FDT.

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Automation.com Real-time Information for the Automation Professional Mar. 15, 2010

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