Machine vision madness (sidebar)

June 1, 2003
Graphical network tool for plant technicians

Deployment of Ethernet on the plant floor has created challenges for both automation and information technology personnel. Traditional network management software used for large IT departments is often too complex and costly for the basic level-one support functions required to keep the plant-floor network operational. A new software tool from Newburyport, Mass.-based Network Vision (www.intravue.net), called IntraVue, supports plant floor and IT needs with a simple graphical user interface.

Company founder Mark Fondl states, “When PLCs were first used for control, the programmers were called every time the machine stopped. Graphical software tools enabled plant technicians to handle these events. This reduced downtime and costs.” Fondl continues, “The same thing is happening with industrial networking. IntraVue was developed to provide local support and reduce the need for highly skilled IT resources to solve basic network problems.”

IntraVue creates a live connection view of the network on a personal computer that dynamically changes with events. Information about connected Ethernet devices and network equipment are all displayed on a single screen.

See the story that goes with this sidebar: Machine vision madness

Sponsored Recommendations

Food Production: How SEW-EURODRIVE Drives Excellence

Optimize food production with SEW-EURODRIVE’s hygienic, energy-efficient automation and drive solutions for precision, reliability, and sustainability.

Rock Quarry Implements Ignition to Improve Visibility, Safety & Decision-Making

George Reed, with the help of Factory Technologies, was looking to further automate the processes at its quarries and make Ignition an organization-wide standard.

Water Infrastructure Company Replaces Point-To-Point VPN With MQTT

Goodnight Midstream chose Ignition because it could fulfill several requirements: data mining and business intelligence work on the system backend; powerful Linux-based edge deployments...

The Purdue Model And Ignition

In the automation world, the Purdue Model (also known as the Purdue reference model, Purdue network model, ISA 95, or the Automation Pyramid) is a well-known architectural framework...