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Contents
A6
A6 Automated container terminal streamlines U.S. supply chain The TraPac San Pedro Bay facility in Los Angeles is the first automated container terminal in North America, bringing more goods through the same footprint, with faster truck turn times and a 90% reduction in emissions
A9 How smart I/O enhances distributed control Installing smart input/output (I/O) during an upgrade or migration can provide personnel with near-real-time data at their fingertips
A12 Advances in mobile devices
A9
In automation, many software and hardware technologies have been developed that allow companies the means to remotely monitor and control business processes from anywhere, via any device, at any time
ON THE COVER The TraPac San Pedro Bay facility in Los Angeles was the first in California to implement many automated systems, including truck handling, on-dock (intermodal) rail and customs scanning. Courtesy: PI North America
I NSI GHTS
Insights on DCS migration and mobility
T
Jack Smith Editor
he cover story in this issue of AppliedAutomation describes the TraPac San Pedro Bay facility in Los Angeles, which is the first automated container terminal in North America. After automating, the facility brings more goods through the same footprint, with faster truck turn times and a 90% reduction in emissions. According to the author, “Containers at TraPac’s Los Angeles terminal now move in a highly choreographed dance between ships, trains and trucks, using hybrid automated straddle carriers (auto-strads) and electrical grid-powered automated stacking cranes.” Automated systems at the terminal include truck handling, on-dock (intermodal) rail and customs scanning. The second article in this issue talks about smart input/output (I/O) technology. According to the author, “Outdated distributed control system (DCS) limitations prevent open communication to smart field devices, subsystems and higherlevel enterprise-wide systems. Manufacturers are
looking to update or migrate their legacy DCS with smart devices to improve asset utilization, increase connectivity and enable near-real-time, data-driven decision-making throughout the enterprise. Some manufacturers jumped on the smart technology bandwagon early and are using microprocessor-based or smart transmitters. Today, many of those same facilities have yet to take advantage of the available advanced data and diagnostic capabilities and, in some cases, multiple process variables (MPVs) that come with them. To do so, they must carefully weigh the pros and cons of installing smart I/O and leverage the latest asset management software.” In automation, many software and hardware technologies have been developed that allow companies the means to remotely monitor and control business processes from anywhere, via any device, at any time. The third article in this issue talks about advances in mobile devices, which serves as another extension of this manufacturing trend.
Applied Automation October 2020
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INDUSTRIAL NETWORKING
Automated container terminal streamlines U.S. supply chain The TraPac San Pedro Bay facility in Los Angeles is the first automated container terminal in North America, bringing more goods through the same footprint, with faster truck turn times and a 90% reduction in emissions Nelly Ayllon, PI
C
North America
ontainer terminals are vital links in the U.S. supply chain between manufacturers and consumers. The TraPac San Pedro Bay facility in Los Angeles shows how automation enabled terminal operators to move goods more quickly and efficiently, while doing more to protect the environment and workers. The facility is the first automated container terminal in North America (see Figure 1). Automation bringing more goods through the same footprint than a manual facility, with faster truck turn times and a 90% reduction in
emissions. The company also operates container terminals in Oakland, Calif., and Jacksonville, Fla. The Los Angeles and Oakland terminals have a cargo capacity of 1.6MM TEUs and 650,000 TEUs, respectively, with volumes increasing. TEU stands for twentyfoot equivalent unit, a measure of containerized cargo. Agricultural exports from the Midwest and imported goods from Pacific Rim countries transit through the terminal.
An investment toward automation “We’ve invested in the future, using automation technologies to move cargo through the terminal quickly and safely, heighten security for personnel and cargo, minimize customer risk and delays, and reduce emissions,” said Mark Jensen, vice president for asset management at TraPac. Containers aaaPac’s Los Angeles terminal now move in a highly choreographed dance between ships, trains and trucks, using hybrid automated straddle carriers (auto-strads) and electrical grid-powered automated stacking cranes (see Figure 2). The terminal was the first in California to implement many automated systems, including truck handling, on-dock (intermodal) rail and customs scanning. By confining most container handling functions behind a secure fence, the operation is also safer, with many features designed to keep humans and machines separate, such as kiosks to protect truck drivers as automated equipment moves to load or unload their trucks. If a driver steps off the pressure sensor pad in the booth, automated equipment is immediately halted. These and other safety features were implemented through secure collaboration to aid large-scale remote operations.
Linking efficiency, safety with Profinet Figure 1: The TraPac San Pedro Bay facility in Los Angeles was the first in California to implement many automated systems, including truck handling, on-dock (intermodal) rail and customs scanning. Courtesy: PI North America
A6 • October 2020
Applied Automation
A Profinet Ethernet network links the automated stacking cranes at the terminal and allows facility-wide programmable logic controller (PLC) monitoring of devices to maintain uptime and safety, while ProfiSafe is integrated into the access control for the automation system (see Figure 3). (ProfiSafe is an additional software layer that provides
functional safety over the bus on top of existing Profibus and Profinet protocols.) The conveyor that moves containers through customs scanning also uses Profinet. “The risk controls call for a deterministic automation network to provide for predictable heartbeat-type PLC monitoring from field devices that, in turn, allows other elements of the system to respond in a known time to both expected and emergency commands,” Jensen said. “For example, in the event of an access point being forcefully breached, the automation control system is able respond in sub-seconds, bringing our massive cranes and [automated straddle carriers] to a stop.”
The multi-protocol multi-vendor approach Profinet and Profibus communications are deployed in two main ways at the terminal. “Profibus is the dominant protocol between the PLC and motion drives in the automated cranes,” Jensen said, “while Profinet is used extensively over the crane itself with both copper and fiber physical layers. Profinet also connects the automated stacking cranes, access control and the centralized Figure 2: Containers at TraPac’s Los Angeles terminal now move in controller PLCs. This across-facility communication to a highly choreographed dance between ships, trains and trucks, bring cranes and access control together also relies on a using hybrid automated straddle carriers (auto-strads). Courtesy: PI combination of copper and fiber physical layers. North America “In the case of the across-facility communication application between PLC equipment nodes, this includes a A multi-stage transition lot of heartbeat-style monitoring by the PLCs to ensure a continuously connected fail-safe system, as well as The TraPac terminal’s transformation from dieselgrander automated interactions between the paired powered material handling equipment to automated gridcranes on common rail runways within a crane block.” electric with hybrid machines was accomplished through a The automated stacking cranes were the first to use multi-stage project, allowing the terminal to keep operating a Profinet network at the facility. Modbus is used in a on schedule throughout the transition. number of other applications, The first phase, which began in and intra-equipment systems 2012, saw the installation of the The automated stacking deploy other fieldbuses, such first auto-strads and the first four as CANbus, CANopen and ASi. automated stacking crane blocks. Wireless communications also This was followed between 2014 cranes were the first to link the automated straddle carriand 2018 by 11 more crane ers and various portable devices, blocks and an increase in the use a Profinet network such as those used by union auto-strad fleet. clerks for exception handling and The automated stacking at the facility. for reefer monitoring by union cranes, which can stack containmechanics. ers up to five high and lift loads “Throughout these communication arrangements, up to 41 tons, have enabled TraPac to stack containers we are interfacing across many brands,” Jensen said. more densely, freeing up space for the intermodal rail “Additionally, we maintain certain redundancies within our system, which also was brought online during this period. infrastructure to effectively manage scenarios that may It’s the only fully automated, emissions-free on-dock U.S. create delays.” rail yard. On-dock rail uses Profinet for remote desk connection The terminal now deploys 29 giant, rail-mounted gantry for exception handling. “Our intermodal yard cranes also stacking cranes powered by grid electricity to move containinterface with the infrastructure and systems through an ers, replacing rubber-tired, diesel-powered cranes. Truck orchestrated automated arrangement,” Jensen said. “As handling is a sub-feature of the automated stacking cranes. a company, we are continuing to improve and surpass “Although it does not exclusively rely on Profinet, the challenges through equipment abilities and operational interface has been improved,” Jensen said. “With continscenarios.” ued reliability, interfacing communication and behaviors Kalmar, a Finnish maker of material handling equiphave allowed better handling of containers for landside ment for container and industrial applications, designed delivery. This is achieved by maintaining a driver on a and manufactured the terminal’s automated systems. pressure sensor in their respective kiosk box, allowing the
Applied Automation October 2020
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A7
INDUSTRIAL NETWORKING “A key difference in our automated terminal area is that we get the truckers to an automation area where they wait A cleaner ecosystem, (engine off) while we collect or bring faster motion control the containers to them as the case might be for either single or dual trans“By being able to pack containers actions. This way of working significantmore densely, we’ve been able to ly reduces the truckers ‘engine on’ time better match yard capacity to berth within our terminal,” he said. capacity as well as reallocate space Emission control measures even for intermodal operations,” Jensen extend to the ships that call at the said. “Before, we had to truck every port, with 100% of the vessels using container through local streets to the Figure 3: A Profinet network links alternative maritime power (AMP) or terminal. Now, with 30 percent of the the automated stacking cranes at the an equivalent technology to reduce collection and distribution moves com- terminal and allows facility-wide propollutants and greenhouse gases. All pleted by rail, street congestion and grammable logic controller (PLC) moniof these advances have created a emissions have been reduced and toring of devices to maintain uptime near-zero emissions ecosystem at the containers are moved more quickly to and safety. Courtesy: PI North America Los Angeles terminal, in keeping with rail hubs closer to the beneficial cargo California’s strict environmental requireowners.” ments and TraPac’s goals for achieving a more efficient, There has also been a huge reduction in emissions safer and cleaner operation. from over-the-road truckers in the vicinity of the terminal, according to Jensen. This is important because an Nelly Ayllon is technical marketing director, PI North average of 1,000 trucks move through the terminal durAmerica. ing each shift, with nine shifts every week. crane to operate and safely handle the evolution at the landside transfer point.”
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A8 • October 2020
Applied Automation
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SMAR T I/O
How smart I/O enhances distributed control Installing smart input/output (I/O) during an upgrade or migration can provide personnel with near-real-time data at their fingertips By Matt Smith,
Why smart I/O?
Smart transmitters make a technician’s job easier when coupled with a digital communication protocol (e.g., HART) as they can easily setup a control element and access and share critical data via mobile devices onsite and in the ver the past decade, the digital transformafield. If smart I/O and asset management software are not tion wave flooded the manufacturing world installed, facility personnel often are left without the full with intelligent data. To reap the benefits of capabilities or functionality from their new smart technolthis Big Data and stay competitive, manuogy or handheld devices. This smart technology, coupled facturers are turning to smart manufacturwith the proper software, is key to remotely accessing ing technology and platforms, such as the valuable data, such as a device’s performance, to deterIndustrial Internet of Things (IIoT), data analytics, cloud mine deviations from normal calibrated settings. and edge computing, virtual reality (VR) and the like. The benefits of smart I/O and Leveraging smart technolsmart transmitters, coupled with ogy and devices to access, Leveraging smart technology asset management software, capture, store and analyze mission critical data is vital to and devices to access, capture, store include the ability to: running a facility and meeting • Help monitor a facility’s faccustomer demand. and analyze mission critical data tory automation system and For many manufacturing is vital to running a facility and reduce downtime due to facilities, however, outdated unauthorized actions or faildistributed control system meeting customer demand. ing devices. (DCS) limitations prevent open communication to smart • Provide diagnostic data directly to a human-machine field devices, subsystems and higher-level enterpriseinterface (HMI) and asset management system, reducwide systems, making it difficult for personnel to access ing troubleshooting time and increasing uptime. critical data. To digitally transform their operations, manufacturers are looking to update or migrate their legacy • Provide ease of transmitter/control element replaceDCS with smart devices to improve asset utilization, ment with configuration setting downloads. Asset increase connectivity and enable near-real-time, datamanagement software allows a technician to push the driven decision-making throughout the enterprise. It also data down to a transmitter to a specific node ID (e.g., a is the ideal time to either upgrade or replace conventional Fieldbus device ID). analog-based instrumentation or add smart functionality and software to existing digital instrumentation. • Offer MPVs — MPVs are generally available with one Some manufacturers jumped on the smart technology I/O connection to a device instead of selecting what bandwagon early and are using microprocessor-based MPV to transmit. Vendors include different information or smart transmitters. Today, however, many of those in their smart transmitters. For example, a mass flowsame facilities have yet to take advantage of the availmeter could provide rate, temperature, total and denable advanced data and diagnostic capabilities and, in sity variables, increasing the transmitter’s value. some cases, multiple process variables (MPVs) that come with them. To do so, they must carefully weigh the • Provide an electronic repository to help maintain and pros and cons of installing smart input/output (I/O) and manage any hardware calibration and lifecycle manleverage the latest asset management software (e.g., agement data all in one place when using asset manRockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk AssetCentre) to management software. age the data.
MAVERICK Techno lo g i e s
O
Applied Automation October 2020
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A9
SMAR T I/O • Create electronic loop folders to house relevant instrument data and checksheets, reducing documentation time by up to 50% as technicians can access the electronic data at any time. • Scan and record valuable data via barcodes or radio frequency identification (RFID) tags applied to each instrument. This can be coupled with additional layers of software (including VR) to provide field access to all data related to a specific device for troubleshooting, reducing downtime.
data and checksheets, as well as access the control system for testing and troubleshooting. In many cases, instead of operators or maintenance personnel going out to the field to connect to a device, HMI maintenance screens — along with properly configured alarms — can be developed to immediately alert them of a problem before it becomes critical.
Smart I/O complexities
So, with all these benefits, why not leverage smart I/O to access all that critical data? For many, it comes down to increased installation and imple• Aid project tracking mentation costs. Much and eliminate the of the expense is due paper trail (i.e., to the I/O count per file cabinet data module. Some standard sheets). Issues analog input cards, for can arise when example, may have 16 key personnel inputs, but smart I/O must rely on cards with digital comthe paper trail munications protocol for valuable (e.g., HART or Fieldbus) information, as may only have half that in: input, so the I/O density is less. The increased –What happens if the cost comes into play instrument sheets as additional smart I/O are lost? communications cards are needed, along with –What if personnel more I/O racks to house forget to record them. the asset ID on the The implementation paperwork? process also comes with an increased –Where does the level of complexity. When it comes to real-time project tracking, MAVERICK technicians paperwork get Manufacturers will need use eStart, a digital commissioning tool to house relevant instrument stored? to install the smart I/O data and checksheets, which eliminates the never-ending paper trail. and other necessary Courtesy: MAVERICK Technologies –What happens when elements. Resource the control room bandwidth may be a faccalls and says a device is acting up? tor as companies seldom have the number of operators, engineers and maintenance people needed to execute A typical scenario is when a technician is dispatched to the upgrade project, especially if it’s a full-blown legacy the field with a communicator and must then connect to system migration. In this instance, finding a third-party the device and run queries for issues. Sending someone partner with the familiarity and skills required to integrate to remotely connect and diagnose the issue and then and implement automation system components and techdocument any problems on paper takes time and money. nology is key to success. These issues can be resolved if the DCS has smart I/O In addition, manufacturers must know in advance what to track the device data. Technicians can then use mobile asset management software elements are required to get handheld devices and software applications to remotely the full benefit of the diagnostic and other capabilities monitor and digitally document instrument calibration of the new system. Otherwise, the cost will increase as
A10 • October 2020
Applied Automation
options are added later. Some key elements to look for in a smart I/O and asset management software combination is the ability to:
• Define and mitigate potential risks, such as resource availability, downtime, safety and the like.
For justification purposes, companies will need to look at the total installed cost and the total cost of ownership over the entire lifecycle of the investment. For example, think about how much that last transmitter or control valve posi• Manage process device calibration, including schedultioner cost as it was failing without any indication. Is there ing and tracking data available on its daily operation? How many times has it failed in the past? Downtime costs and ROI are hard to • Manage and configure device type manager (DTM) determine in cases where data is not readily available. devices using a process device configuration option Also think about the intangible assets and advantages. How much value, for example, is placed on peace of • Log system events and user actions. mind, knowing the system will alert personnel ahead of a failure and prevent potenOther capabilities may be tial emergency situations from available as well (e.g., secure A legacy system migration occurring outside of or duraccess and disaster recovery), ing normal working hours. but as with any hardware or Response time under these software purchase, review project is a great time to circumstances is critical to the all required elements ahead safety and well-being of perof time to leverage any cost reevaluate existing hardware sonnel and the manufacturing reduction benefits of the projfacility. ect. Also consider where it all gets housed and whether and software and review A smart industrial world a new computer system or a virtual machine is necessary to The industrial landscape is potential project costs against maintain the system. getting smarter. Modern conManufacturers must carefully trol systems contain valuable review all these considerations technologies that can make sigoverall return on investment. and how they fit into their overnificant improvements to operaall business needs, goals and tions and increase productivity. objectives. A legacy system migration project is a great Installing smart I/O during an upgrade or migration can time to reevaluate existing hardware and software and provide personnel with near-real-time data at their fingerreview potential project costs against overall return on tips that now takes someone going into the field to gather. investment (ROI). It is critical a project team has the right knowledge and experience to overcome the potential challenges unique Plan and justify to automation. If resource bandwidth is an issue, engage a partner who has multiplatform experience and the skills Proper upfront planning is the best way to resolve any required to successfully integrate and implement the autoissues and justify a project. Using a front-end loading mation system components and technology on the market. (FEL) approach, a team can develop a project execution The right partner can help guide the project to success plan based on proven best practices. They can successand deliver a higher level of system integration while maxifully plan and budget using an itemized task checklist, mizing the return on a smart automation investment. such as: • Manage device configuration files
• Define a scope that aligns with the company’s business needs and requirements • Evaluate and select the best hardware and software options available • Develop an execution plan — along with accurate cost estimates — and a schedule • Develop total installed cost and total cost of ownership comparisons on different vendor options to maximize the ROI
Matt Smith is a senior consultant at MAVERICK Technologies with 32 years of experience in automation and controls and 14 years of experience in consulting and systems integration. He has expertise in front-end loading (FEL) analyses and DCSs, as well as extensive knowledge on various automation platforms and software from Rockwell Automation, Siemens, Emerson, Intellution and Wonderware. He also has worked in food and beverage, chemical/petrochemical, oil and gas, water treatment, pulp and paper and power generation industries. Maverick Technologies is a member of the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA).
Applied Automation October 2020
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A11
MOBILITY
Advances in mobile devices In automation, many software and hardware technologies have been developed that allow companies the means to remotely monitor and control business processes from anywhere, via any device, at any time By Melissa Topp, I C O N I C S
T
he ability to securely access an organization’s data from any mobile device is often as important as the generation, transmission, storage/ archiving and analysis of that data. The recent global pandemic has amplified its necessity, as workers all over the world are counted on to perform their responsibilities as best as possible away from their usual job sites. In automation, many software and hardware technologies have been developed, even prior to recent events, that allow companies the means to remotely monitor and control business processes from anywhere, via any device, at any time.
Evolution of mobile devices In its earliest days, process automation was considered an onsite endeavor. Operators and technicians were required to be in close proximity to the involved machinery for its operation, maintenance and repair. As time progressed, so did the allowance for a little extra distance from the actual processes, although business process supervision and control were still performed onsite, just in a nearby control room.
Figure 1: A collection of mobile devices that can be used in tandem with automation software. Courtesy: ICONICS and RealWear Inc.
A12 • October 2020
Applied Automation
Fast-forward through some major breakthroughs in network connectivity and computing device processing speeds and soon modern technology started to allow for offsite monitoring and control. However, these earliest attempts were not exactly in real time, were not especially graphics-intensive and leaned more toward the monitoring side than control. As time went on, so too did the iterations of networking speed and throughput, as well as the form factors of mobile hardware and their performance. Desktop PC-based automation software, although a leap from direct machine controls, would never be considered “mobile” by current thinking, but it was a start. Laptop computers soon untethered employees from stationary locations, but they weren’t exactly convenient to carry around the worksite, and the corresponding network technology still needed some maturing. The internet’s ubiquity made remote monitoring and control more feasible for most businesses. Automation software developers kept pace, taking advantage of web server/mobile client structures to improve data connectivity, retrieval and transmission, as well as graphical visualization, performance and process interactivity.
Progression The internet, along with its ability to connect to almost any data source around the world, led to the development of multiple new computing devices. These early days saw the emergence of “handheld” PCs. These devices ran the gamut between beefed up pocket organizers to pared down PCs and many manufacturers, including some longstanding technology companies, entered the fray. Automation software companies accompanied these device manufacturers in their growing pains, determining the best mix of their control software that would be the best fit for the smaller screens. At this time, now more than two decades ago, ICONICS developed a mobile-based version of its GENESIS32 PC-based human-machine interface (HMI)/ supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)
specifically for mobile devices running then-currently-available Microsoft’s Windows CE and Pocket PC software. However, the networking abilities didn’t quite match up with the hardware. Two milestones were yet to occur. The first was upgrading of cellular wireless performance; the second was the merging of handheld PCs and phones with data connectivity (“smartphones”). This turned out to be a mobile device “sweet spot,” as smartphones were widely adopted, with businesses and automation software developers taking notice. Their handheld nature combined with fast wireless connectivity combined with capable onboard processing led to a cascade of new applications continuing today. Around the same time, ICONICS released its MobileHMI data mobility software solution, where HMI/SCADA displays can be customized for multiple smartphone specifications and the associated mobile client can perform more data-intensive tasks related to process monitoring and control. On some of these devices, touchscreens soon replaced built-in buttons and seemed to set off yet another technology revolution in data mobility. Recognizing a good thing, hardware manufacturers experimented with the smartphone form factor to try to create a hybrid with larger laptop-like screens and tablets soon became nearly as popular as their smaller smartphone predecessors.
Expansion Fast wireless networking coupled with increasingly agile processing hardware seemed to open the floodgates for multiple mobile device types, as well as for integrated automation software. A new category of “wearables” has taken mobile computing concepts from laptops, smartphones and tablets and placed them in devices worn directly on the user (see Figure 1). Head-mounted devices include Microsoft’s HoloLens mixed reality device and RealWear’s HMT-1 voice-controlled fully rugged headset. To accommodate this new wave of hardware, ICONICS introduced its holographic machine interface in its GENESIS64 HMI/SCADA software to optimize displays for Microsoft HoloLens and an Android-based MobileHMI client app that works with RealWear’s HMT-1 (see Figure 2). Although not limited solely to wearable devices, the concept of augmented reality (AR) seemed to gain popularity at the same time. Multiple facets of AR have been incorporated into automation software developers’ mobile data solutions to make data collection, transmission or analysis easier for customers. Some technologies
Figure 2: ICONICS KPI-focused mobile app, KPIWorX, running on an Android-based smartphone. Courtesy: ICONICS
Figure 3: Similar KPI info can be shown on wearables, such as through ICONICS’ smartwatch interface. Courtesy: ICONICS
integrated into automation-based AR solutions include quick response code (QR), global positioning system (GPS), near field communication (NFC), optical character recognition (OCR), iBeacon (Apple’s implementation of Bluetooth lowenergy [BLE] wireless technology) and Barcode (optical, machine readable representation of data). Just as phones became “smart” and computing started getting closer to the body, smart watches became popular, as well. As an additional screen, users can opt for these devices to be wirelessly tethered to their smartphones (and that phone’s data plan), or some can be used as a standalone device (that can use its own cellular connectivity when not connected via Wi-Fi). ICONICS has added smartwatch integration into its KPIWorX self-service dashboard technology for custom visualization and KPIs on popular watch platforms, allowing users to connect to real-time information provided via OPC UA, BACnet, Modbus and other popular communication technology standards, as well as to business intelligence data from databases and other analytics tools (see Figure 3). Although not traditionally considered a “mobile” data solution, voice machine assistants do qualify under the definition of “hands-free” user interactivity. Advanced voice recognition technology paired with fast data network transfer has been integrated into multiple device types. Automation software developers have integrated such hands-free, natural language interaction to help users boost productivity and improve operational efficiency. The aim is to make it simple and intuitive to issue voice commands for activities such as monitoring the status of systems and processes, controlling equipment and devices and analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs). One example of such technology is ICONICS’ voice machine interface (VMI) available within its GENESIS64 HMI/SCADA solution offering compatibility with voice assistants including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Microsoft Cortana.
Applied Automation October 2020
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A13
MOBILITY CFSWorX leverages ICONICS AlertWorX technology to send notifications to technicians. Alerts can be delivered via e-mail, it’s safe to say connecSMS or through mobile app via push notitivity will continue to fication. When the technician receives an alert, he or she can reply to the message improve. Form factors or use the mobile app to either accept responsibility, reject the alert or report as will change. “busy” and pass the alert to the next person. Once onsite, technicians can use a remote expert feature, which can stream On the horizon live video and audio via a user’s mobile Figure 4: An onsite technician takdevice (including AR-enabled wearables) ing advantage of the combination of Where do mobile data solutions for remote knowledge sharing and to go from here? With history as a mobile data hardware and software. improve issue resolution (see Figure 4). guide, it’s safe to say data connecCourtesy: ICONICS and RealWear Inc. In years to come, there will certainly tivity will continue to improve. Form be more ways to define data mobility as factors will change. Processing will well as the software and hardware that makes it possible. get speedier, both on the server and client sides. What Automation software developers will continue to build upon customers may see are more specialized adaptations of past technology breakthroughs and invent new combinamobile technologies. For example, ICONICS has recently tions to help businesses get the most use from that data. released a product called CFSWorX, a connected field worker notification solution that helps streamline the effiMelissa Topp is senior director of global marketing at ciency of field service organizations through intelligent ICONICS (https://iconics.com). scheduling and reliable notifications.
With history as a guide,
CFE
®
Edu
Committed to providing continuing education to engineering professionals. Whether enrolled students need a refresher course on a particular topic or need to know more about the latest engineering industry issues, CFE Edu offers courses that touch on a wide variety of topics.
Want to drive your career forward with CFE Edu? View the course catalog at:
cfeedu.cfemedia.com
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Our course catalog is RCEP Accredited, as well as certified by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for continuing education. AIA CES credits (learning unit hours) are earned for each course upon completion. After finishing each course, participants will receive a certificate of completion. Each course will educate and test participant knowledge via a mix of reading, video clips, and interactive elements.
5/5/2020 9:10:41 AM
Rugged & Powerful Introducing the GA800 Variable Frequency Drive
Is production downtime one of your biggest concerns? Yaskawa has provided customers with more than a century of legendary reliability and high performance motor control.
SUSTAINABLE FLEXIBLE EASY
The new GA800 variable speed drive builds upon Yaskawa’s reputation for quality. It also brings new features to make your life even easier.
Your days are complicated enough. Let us help simplify them. Call Yaskawa today at 1-800-927-5292.
Yaskawa America, Inc.
Drives & Motion Division
1-800-YASKAWA
yaskawa.com
For more info: https://www.yaskawa.com/ga800-drive
Less means more!
Focused on the essentials: the new i500 Slim design, scalable functionality, and extremely user-friendly. The groundbreaking i500 is size-optimized and allows for zeroclearance mounting, saving valuable cabinet space. And thanks to the innovative interface options, it’s easy to commission in minimal time. The best thing of all is that the modular structure adapts to different production configurations in no time at all. Less does mean more! Learn more at www.Lenze.com. See us at PACK EXPO Connects – Virtual Trade Show | PE.show/271 | Nov 9-13
As easy as that.