Articles and News

A future PV value can make setpoint response, reset & feedforward smarter and help operations understand consequences of the dynamics on current actions.

By Robert Golightly, AspenTech Adaptive Process Control provides a set of innovative, patented techniques for automatic adjustment of the controllers in real-time and elevates maintenance to a built-in and continuous part of the management process.

A software algorithm/package for control loop configuration and eco-efficiency

By Thomas R. Cutler During 2013 the past-paced, ever-changing elements of automation impacting manufacturing, material handling, and logistics was remarkable. The prognosis for more automation innovation in 2014 is axiomatic and transformative companies will illuminate the possibilities of great efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

By Bill Lydon, Editor Emerson’s Sonnenberg and Zornio discussed pervasive sensing as a growing trend. They framed the discussion around the idea of pervasive sensing as the way to achieve the pursuit of actionable information to improve operations and maintenance.

As cyberattacks and threats to network security continue to rise, so does the need for securing industrial control systems for water and wastewater systems.

By Bill Lydon, Editor Foxboro has dramatically stepped up the power of their controller with the Foxboro Evo process automation system introduction. This controller is a great example of the new breed of controllers that leverages the latest technology.

Premature valve failure results from seat erosion under low flow/high pressure drop conditions or when the valve is cavitating or flashing.

Technical paper focuses on the implementation of a practical approach for fuel cells system data analysis.

By Bill Lydon, Editor Over the last few years a number of automation vendors have announced various services including outsourced maintenance, system integration, manufacturing and business process consulting, and remote operations. I wonder if an automation vendor can continue to be effective as both a product company and services provider.

Recently I watched the movie Apollo 13 again, this time including my four children who had never seen the cinematic classic. I’ve personally seen it too many times to count; it’s one of my favorites—p

Smart reset can reduce overshoot and faltering, and smart feedforward can provide a more complete and accurate feedforward action.

ISA education and training in December features new course offerings

By Pat Garrehy, Rootstock When SAP recently decided to stop working on its mid-market BusinessByDesign Cloud ERP product, it didn’t take long for the competition to voice their opinions.

By Bill Lydon, Editor While industrial Ethernet is being adopted at a high rate, the majority of connected nodes (73%) are still traditional networks like DeviceNet, PROFIBUS, Modbus, SERCOS, Foundation Fieldbus, ASi, and others. In order to gain a clearer understanding of the trends, I spoke with Tom Moore, Research Analyst at IHS's Electronics and Media Group.

Can Early Involvement Improve Operations and Maintenance in the Safety Life Cycle?

In an automation career, you will be amazed how a quick admission of error can defuse a potentially bad scene.

Understanding the scope and linkages between automation and business systems is crucial.

By Bill Lydon, Editor The time has come for a new acronym. The new high level of communications and computing at end devices is opening the possibilities for holistic and adaptive automation with the goal of increasing efficiency. This is a logical evolution in step with the “Internet of Things” trend and will lead to more responsive and efficient production.

What are the Advantages of Electronic Document Management for the Automation Industry?