The traditional approach to temperature monitoring in the process control industry involves challenges that drive up initial setup and ongoing maintenance costs.

Industrial edge computing processes data locally within industrial environments, enabling real-time analytics and machine control. It’s used in predictive maintenance, robotics, and quality assurance by reducing latency and enhancing automation.

Industrial remote connectivity solutions enable machine builders and users to securely access industrial equipment from any location. These solutions facilitate seamless and secure Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) functionality, allowing for remote maintenance, troubleshooting, and machine data visualization.

Gaining real-time insights into use of edge devices can help avoid downtime, reduce costs and optimize industrial performance. With today’s flexible edge devices, users can create tailored machine monitoring solutions that fit a wide variety of specific business needs.

A hybrid cloud computing and edge architecture enables critical, real-time decisions to happen at the edge and strategic, data-intensive analysis in the cloud. Expect to see more edge architectures and cloud computing in manufacturing processes, driving further innovation and efficiency improvements.

Rather than expecting a new AI model to help with critical processes, it should first be implemented in non-critical areas or an advisory capacity. For example, AI might first be used to analyze historical data and provide insights without the ability to directly affect operations.

Through an agent-based interface, users will be able to configure autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs), assigning them tasks like transporting materials and goods across the shop floor. This is yet another building block for automating automation in a factory with the help of generative AI.

The requirement for microcontrollers to manage multiple tasks simultaneously means they can struggle to meet the timing specifications for IO-Link data communications. Some manufacturers have been left with using a second microcontroller to manage the IO-Link stack, but now this is no longer necessary.

EtherCAT is recognized as an international standard and is standardized in IEC 61158 and IEC 61784. The first two parts of this series dealt with the technical features of EtherCAT. This third part deals with the structure and work of the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) and the services it provides…

Advanced software platforms can support the development of virtualized operations. With comprehensive support for IEC 61850 and advanced features including seamless redundancy, automated engineering and role-based access control, software solutions are simplifying the transition to software-defined substations.