New Capabilities Are Changing HMIs

The focus given to specific automation technologies at the SPS/IPC/Drives event in Nuremberg makes it easier to see clear industrial technology trends. And this year there were two clear trends on display: industrial communication and HMI panel advances. This article focuses on the newer HMI panel technologies I saw at the show. Access the article on industrial communication technology advances here.

The largest display on panels I saw at the SPS event was in the Beckhoff Automation booth. Beckhoff contends that it is time to fully bring smartphone and tablet capabilities to industrial operator interfaces. Roland van Mark of Beckhoff showed me an array of different multi-touch displays that Beckhoff is now bringing to market. These ruggedized displays, ranging in size from small screens to 24-inches in size, offer IP65 and NEMA 4 ratings and can be interacted with like a tablet PC, allowing users to swipe screens to move from one view to another and to reduce or expand screens by pinching together or spreading their fingers on the screen.

Roland also pointed out that the display capabilities of these new operator interfaces are not the only new advance. The other key aspect of these panels is their connection capabilities. A range of connection options are offered, including a passive display family that can be connected directly to a PC as well as a panel that combines a multicore industrial PC built-in. Also on display was an IP65-rated multicore panel integrated into water-tight multi-touch screen for use in wash-down environments.

The video below features Roland van Mark explaining the different multi-touch panels on display as well as an explanation of Beckhoff’s CP-Link 4 technology that integrations power, DVI and USB into one cable.

At the Omron booth, James Riley introduced the company’s new HMI that leverages the Sysmac Automation Platform. Using this platform, project data and controller variables from Omron’s NJ controller (introduced 3 years ago at SPS and focused on logic, motion and vision), in addition to separate vision systems and even safety controllers, can be connected through Sysmac I/O up the new NA HMI. All the data from these different devices can be accessed on the HMI screen. Using Sysmac Studio, system designers can access the controller, all the I/O, and networks to design the operator interface. Riley adds that a Sysmac remote connection allows for smartphone or tablet connection to the system for interaction with the HMI and control system. “Were talking about a true machine interface for connection with higher level systems, not just a basic HMI,” Riley says.

In this video, James Riley explains Omron’s new NA HMI and its role in the Sysmac Automation Platform.