Tag: Automation
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Features of a Serial Interface
In a serial interface, the data is sent 1 bit after the other on a single wire. Serial data is classified as being either synchronous or asynchronous. Synchronous data require that the data bytes be sent as group in a “package”. It is employed in advanced communication systems that move a lot of data. Asynchronous…
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Analog vs. Digital Controllers
Analog signals pass continuously through a full range of values for example a measuring device converts the process variable (PV), say temperature, into a signal corresponding to this temperature. Each temperature value corresponds to a value of the electrical signal. Digital signals belong to the group of discrete signals; here the individual signals are represented…
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Position Control System using a Microprocessor-Based Controller
Consider the following figure illustrating a position control system employing a microprocessor-based controller with parallel ports: The system above has one output port and three input ports (each port has its own address). The output port is partitioned: Six bits are converted in a Digital Analog Converter (DAC) to provide the analog motor-drive signal, the…
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What are PLC-Based Water Treatment Plants?
Most of the water treatment plants in the previous decade were manually operated. However, they were automated to a certain degree using relays or electrical control panels but the system was not reliable and required a lot of space. In this modern era, water treatment facilities are automatically operated using PLC or Programmable Logic Controllers…
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Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition in Power Systems
The term supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) refers to the network of computer processors that provide control and monitoring of remote electrical or mechanical operation e.g. management of power distribution grid or the control of mechanical processes in a manufacturing plant. Typical the old SCADA systems would encompass computers and network links that manage…
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The Role of IO-Link (Single Drop Communication Technology) in Industrial Networking
The increasing application of microcontrollers in low cost sensors and actuators has provided opportunities for adding diagnosis and configuration data to support increasing function requirements. The chief reason for the development of a new technology called IO-Link has been the need for these low-cost sensors and actuators to exchange the diagnosis and configuration data with…
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How Controllers are used in Industrial Automation Systems
In many process control systems, microprocessor based programmable logic controllers are used for decision making due to the sophistication of the system and the large number of process variables involved. The PLC can be configured to receive a small number of inputs (both analog and digital) and control a small number of outputs or the…
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Types and Operations of Wired Ethernet Networks
Ethernet plays an important role as a communication platform for automation systems. The Key strength of Ethernet is in its ability to run many protocols simultaneously on the same network. Ethernet enables flexibility, scalability and performance of industrial networks in a way not seen before in automated systems. Principle of Operation of Ethernet Network Ethernet…
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Basic Features of Controller Area Network (CAN)
Controller Area Network (CAN) is a serial communication protocol developed primarily for applications in the automotive industry. It is also capable of offering good performance in other time-critical industrial applications. The CAN protocol is optimized for short messages and uses a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA)/Arbitration message priority (AMP) medium access control technique. Therefore CAN…