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Automation.com, April 2011 By Jeff Kamin, QComp 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.

Automation.com, March 2011 By PLCopen North America 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.

Automation.com, October 2010 By Mark Howard, Zettlex Traditional rotary encoders can be readily fitted to shaft diameters of less than 2 inches, but what happens if your design needs a much larger diameter through shaft or bore?

By Don Morrison, Honeywell Process Solutions Key misconceptions are based on the common shortcomings of traditional model predictive control: complexity of configuration, speed of execution, interpretation of noise in the system, and over-active movement of the final control element. But an intelligently implemented MPC strategy can result in increased plant efficiencies over PID.

By Dr Peter Harrop, IDTechEx Energy harvesting is the conversion of ambient energy into electricity to drive small or mobile electronic and electrical devices.

By Mubeen Almoustafa, Flow Dynamics Inc In order to be confident that a meter is accurately measuring the flow volume or mass, it must be recalibrated on a periodic basis.

By Marketing Sherpa As marketing strategies evolve from outbound to inbound tactics, there is also a shift in the ways in which money and resources are spent. Marketing Sherpa asked more than 1,100 marketers how they foresaw budgets changing in 2011 for the following marketing tactics.

By Mark Howard, Zettlex The pros & cons of custom versus standard position sensors and why new technology is changing the rules. Includes an explanation of "bespoke" for U.S. engineers.

By Jay Bartsias, TURCK NFPA 79 code permits the use of molded-on cordsets—including quick-disconnect connectors and rugged cable for exposed-run installations—for powering motors, pumps and other machinery. Here’s how to apply them instead of using hard wiring.

By Mark Howard, Zettlex The traditional approach is to measure angular position or speed indirectly – typically inferring the shaft’s position from measurements made elsewhere. It can also be done with inductive sensors.

By Simon Dear, Cynergy3 Components When selecting a float switch for a liquid level sensing application, a number of factors need to be considered, including float switch and gasket materials, physical arrangement, electrical ratings and cable type.

By Bill Lydon, Editor Metropolitan Solutions, a showcase created by Deutsche Messe and run concurrently with the 2013 Hannover Messe, provided a focal point for learning about the application of technology to improve cities. Real-time automation and control technologies are the logical building blocks for cities to modernize, improve safety and reliability, and provide efficient environments for people to live.

By Mark Davidson, LNS Research Largely due to the misalignment of goals and objectives, a considerable number of organizations struggle to realize the full business value that manufacturing can generate. There are several steps all organizations that utilize manufacturing can take to properly and optimally align goals.

By Kevin L. Finnan The trend toward intelligent devices in remote SCADA installations would seem to put remote terminal units (RTUs) on the path to obsolescence. Instead, it illustrates the evolving value of RTUs in contemporary systems.

For the past several decades, most industries within the US market have been dominated by the use of PVC jacketed metallic conduits. In Europe, they use polyamide conduits and fittings. What's the difference?

By Pat Garrehy, Rootstock There is a general consensus that, by 2023, most of the installed MFG ERP systems will be Cloud-based. But, will they be multi-tenant or hosted? There are arguments for both.

By Bill Lydon, Editor The inaugural Haystack Connect event introduced a movement that has the potential to be the next big wave in building automation by fostering an entirely new open system in the industry that goes beyond open protocols to encompass system software.

Automation.com, November 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor Analytic computing methods are increasingly being applied in business and technology with software emerging in the automation industry giving users actionable insights and understanding of performance based on data and statistical methods.

Automation.com, November 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor Invensys Foxboro describes their Modernization Program as taking a holistic approach based on business requirements with four major goals - Reduce risk of failures, operational improvements, new & existing systems integration, and securing automation systems from cyber-attack.

Automation.com, November 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor Improving operator interaction is a good topic but this perspective may be holding back automation industry progress. It seems to me the industry should be putting more effort into developing more advanced automation with the goal of eliminating operators.