Hear Stephanie and Beth talk shop

Dec 1st, 2016

Our writers share insights on the interesting—and sometimes quirky—automation applications they’re covering outside the factory environment. Focus includes a new type of virtual assistant with emotional intelligence, weather-responsive homes, drones being used to deliver blood in remote Africa (or as first responders closer to home), edible packaging and turning air into water.

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Mini-Geo System

The Mini-Geo is a modification of B&R’s AcoposTrak shuttle transport system that is synchronized with an IRB 1200 robotic arm from ABB and several vision sensors.

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Secure and Reliable Digital Connectivity

Sinema Remote Connect lets you access remote plants or machines conveniently and securely, even if they’re integrated into other networks.

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Smart Instruments for Pressure Measurement

Keith Riley of Endress+Hauser highlights the company's new smart instruments for pressure measurement that feature Bluetooth connectivity, instrument-led commissioning features, smart safety functionality, and diagnostics and monitoring capabilities.

Avnu Alliance Express TSN Testing Suite at Allion Labs, Taiwan.

Time Sensitive Networking Product Testing Expands

The ability to bring determinism to standard Ethernet for use in industrial control system networking gets a boost from Avnu Alliance’s expanded test and certification capabilities.

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Industrial Imaging for Air Leak Detection

Fluke Corp.'s Aaron Woody details the company's ii900 Sonic Industrial Imager at Rockwell Automation Fair 2021. It uses acoustic imaging technology to detect compressed air leaks.

Insert and scan. It’s that simple.

Insert and scan. It’s that simple.

Learn about Trend Micro Portable Security™ 3—an installation-free USB stick equipped with a malware scanning function.

Remote Access for Navigating The Skills Gap

While the manufacturing skills gap is a complex issue that will need to addressed from many different angles, remote access technology could help to lighten the burden. Find out more on today's Take Five with Automation World video.

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CtrlX Automation Store

The ctrlX Store is an online application marketplace for Bosch Rexroth’s ctrlX CORE automation control platform.

Rockwell Automation and Cisco partner on New Manufacturing Training Program

With skilled labor shortages on the horizon for many manufacturers, Rockwell Automation and Cisco are collaborating with the University of Wisconsin to nurture a more automation-savvy workforce.

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Twin Proximity Sensors

The Teledyne TapTone Twin Proximity Sensor is designed to detect and reject low vacuum and no vacuum steel cans with EZ-Open can ends (pull-tabs) at production speeds up to 525 feet per minute.

New Technology Companies to Watch

The complexities of industrial automation are leading innovators to develop new technologies aimed at improving production and supply chain issues. This article highlights eight companies helping manufacturers chart a path toward industry’s future.

PULS CP10 Series - The Industry's Smallest 240W Power Supply

PULS CP10 Series - The Industry's Smallest 240W Power Supply

The PULS CP10 Series breaks all barriers for performance and size. Using the latest power supply technology, this 240W DIN-Rail single-phase power supply series boasts an unmatched efficiency rating of 95.2%

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3D Software for Custom Machine Design

Rockwell Automation highlights use of its Emulate3D software to more easily create, develop, and test complex machine designs before physical construction of the system and reduce commissioning time.

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2200 Precision Move Pallet System from Dorner

The 2200 Precision Move Pallet System is a modular conveyor for assembly automation.

Randy Otto, CEO, ECS Solutions

Class-based Unit Coordination Utilizing Link Groups

Take advantage of product functionality to coordinate activities between units.

Industrial Sensors in the Vineyard & Other Automation Trends

How Bouchaine Vineyards is using Cisco Industrial Asset Vision sensors to improve growing operations and why the use of remote access and Ethernet I/O are increasing.

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Real Time Locating System

Siemens’ RTLS technology is used to track the position of assets, containers, vehicles, and other materials in indoor and outdoor environments.

Rockwell Automation Fair Highlights Industry Challenges, PlantPAx 5.0 Updates

The keynote address emphasized common struggles processing companies face today and highlighted the benefits of the latest version of Rockwell’s distributed control system.

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The Path from PID to Autonomy

The concept of autonomous operations in manufacturing is not built on wholly new technologies. In fact, it can be seen as part of the continuing development of closed loop feedback systems.

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AlphaStep AZ Series Closed Loop Stepper Motor Driver

The AlphaStep AZD-K Stepper Motor Drivers offer 24/48 VDC input voltage, high functionality and closed loop control.

More in Home

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Improving Human-Robot Collaboration for Material Handling Tasks

A new partnership between Fetch Robotics and Lucas Systems aims to help combine human and robot labor more efficiently.

This illustration depicts the MQTT infrastructure. Source: Cirrus Link.

Securing MQTT Messages

The use of a message broker in MQTT communications addresses some industrial networking security concerns, but not all of them. The co-inventor of the technology offers tips on how to secure your MQTT communications.

Tim Gellner, Systems Integration Consultant, Rockwell Automation

A Tale of Three Clients and Their Journeys to MES

MES implementation can take many routes, with some more successful than others. In this article, we follow three different clients and discover how their early MES implementation steps led to success or setbacks down the line.

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T550 Compression Machine

Compress technology detects leaks in plastic containers. As a container passes through the system, dual parallel belts apply force to the sidewalls of the container.

Aaron Muir, Engineering Manager, Glenmount Global – an E Technologies company.

DC & AC Motors: Considering Your Options

How do you go about selecting the right electric motor for an industrial application? What would an expert recommend? What are the advantages and disadvantages to DC & AC Motors? This article holds the answers you've been looking for.

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Unpacking Single-Pair Ethernet and Ethernet Advanced Physical Layer

SPE and APL are being heralded as potentially transformative for the process industries. Find out more on this Take Five with Automation World video.

Bottling line at Spitz factory in Upper Austria.

Spitz Digitalizes Its Production with Manufacturing Execution System

To future-proof its operations, which produce more than 1 million products a day, Spitz turned to Siemens Simatic IT Production Suite to increase process stability and product quality while connecting its business and process control systems.

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Making Legacy Equipment Connections Work

System integrator Luke Stephenson of Enterprise Automation share his insights on why MQTT and cloud computing are critical components of legacy equipment data collection and analysis.

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Dorner Ert150 Conveyors

Dorner's precision edge roller pallet and tray handling conveyors provide efficient, non-contact zoning for medium and heavy load assembly automation applications.

Volvo Group Capitalizes on Digital Thread Innovations

The company is expanding its collaboration with PTC beyond its construction equipment business unit to encompass the broader organization.

Middle River Power’s Tracy, Calif., plant.

Turbine Retrofit Reduces Hot Startup Time, Increases Revenues

Replacing legacy steam turbine controls with Emerson’s Ovation distributed control system technology enabled a Middle River Power plant to better adapt to fluctuations in renewable energy generation.

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Securing Distributed Control Systems

Industrial control system cybersecurity is often discussed in broad terms, but the distributed control systems used in the continuous processing industries introduce some unique cybersecurity requirements.