Feature: Sensor integration
The SICK SIG200 gateway and SIG100 sensor hub
Joining the dots with sensor integration devices T
here was a time when sensors were simple switches, and their manufacturers just hardware suppliers. All that has changed. Sensors are the ‘eyes and ears’ that collect data on the front line of production and logistics operations. Equipped with ever-smaller microprocessors, they have become intelligent.
architecture, but the data generated can
data efficiently. They deal with the data at
be shared not just at the machine level,
a local level while making it visible global-
but also via cloud-based systems. First,
ly. Manufacturers like SICK have already
that data can be monitored and trended
begun to roll out a portfolio of devices to
on a PC, machine HMI or cloud-based
facilitate sensor integration into fieldbus
dashboard. It also has the potential to be
environments and higher automation hi-
used in ERP (Enterprise Resource Plan-
erarchies.
ning) and MES (Manufacturing Execution System) software; indeed, this is seen as
Sensor integration gateways
fundamental to the future of Industry 4.0
To begin with, most people are familiar
manufacturing and logistics.
with IO-Link Masters that sit on a higher-level bus system, such as PROFINET
With their own decentralised comput-
Digitisation, intelligence and networking
or EtherCAT. They act as a gateway for
ing power right on board, sensors may
will increase until, eventually, systems will
IO-Link data to be passed on to the
no longer need to rely completely on a
control and optimise themselves – all us-
PLC or higher-level systems. The SICK
higher-level or central control system to
ing the data from sensors. Data transpar-
SIG200 Sensor Integration Gateway is
process and make sense of all the data
ency enables trends to be monitored and
an IO-Link Master with the addition of an
they produce. They can also provide ad-
gives us the ability to understand more
on-board web server that collects, com-
ditional data to the control system via IO-
about a system. From Overall Equipment
bines, evaluates and transmits signals
Link. Some even process applications,
Effectiveness (OEE) to Deep Learning, it
from IO-Link devices from any manufac-
or ‘Smart Tasks’ by themselves. Soon,
is the integration of the data that allows
turer. It works as both an IO-Link Mas-
some will combine multiple functions in
a user to become more aware of what is
ter and small, distributed logical control
a single device, for example, detecting
happening within a system.
system in one. It needs only one cable
piston position, vibration and angular velocity for end-of-arm tooling.
to communicate simultaneously via the The key to all this integration lies in the
fieldbus with the machine controller
gateways and devices that act as the
and with higher-level enterprise or web-
Integration of hardware takes place at a
translators – and, sometimes, as localised
based systems.
local level within the systems and control
controllers – to aggregate and route the
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