Industrial automation manufacturer Opto 22 has announced groov 2.3, a major update adding Modbus/TCP communication to the company’s groov web-based mobile interface software. With groov’s new Modbus/TCP support, thousands of industrial devices can now be monitored and managed using effective, scalable operator interfaces on smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. Modbus/TCP is a widely adopted, TCP/IP-based communications protocol used in level sensors, rotary encoders, drives, meters, and industrial controllers and I/O, plus thousands of other devices deployed in diverse industries. Industrial automation end-users, system integrators, machine OEMs, or any authorized person can quickly and securely monitor and control these devices, as well as automation, building, and other control systems, all from a mobile device.
Acting as a Modbus/TCP master, groov communicates directly with Modbus/TCP slave devices over standard, non-proprietary Ethernet networks. No intermediary servers, protocol converters, or communications interfaces are required. This simplifies hardware planning, reduces initial hardware cost and ongoing maintenance, and streamlines device setup and configuration. More information about groov’s new Modbus/TCP support is available here
What is groov?
groov is a zero-programming, web-based way to build, deploy, and view effective, scalable operator interfaces to monitor and control systems and equipment using mobile devices and other computer-based systems. These operator interfaces can be viewed on almost any mobile device or computer regardless of its manufacturer, operating system, or screen size, including smartphones, tablets, PCs, and even smart high-definition televisions.
For mobile devices like iPhones, iPads, and Android-based smartphones and tablets, a groov View app for iOS and Android is available free of charge on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. The groov View app provides a native mobile experience for operator interfaces built with groov. These interfaces can also be viewed in the mobile device’s built-in web browser.
groov can augment existing human-machine interfaces (HMIs) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems by making important information available to authorized users at any time and in any location. groov is available as either the standalone groov Box hardware appliance or the PC-based groov Server for Windows software.
In addition to Modbus/TCP networking, groov supports OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) to communicate with a variety of devices on the plant floor, including PLCs, DCSs, PACs, databases, and OPC-DA servers. groov also communicates directly with Opto 22 SNAP PAC System controllers.
Trial Version and Online Demo
A fully functional version of groov Server for Windows is available to download and try so you can see your own system’s data on a smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device. The groov free trial operates for two hours without a license and can be restarted as needed. You can also see groov in action immediately and try it yourself with an online demo available here
Pricing and Availability
groov 2.3 is available immediately. Choose either the groov Box hardware appliance (GROOV- AR1) at a list price of $2895.00 USD, or groov Server for Windows software (GROOV-SVR-WIN) at a list price of $2695.00 USD. Customers who already have groov version 2.0 or later and a groov maintenance contract can upgrade to groov 2.3 free of charge.
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