![]() While adding more and more channels to the controllers might seem like the obvious approach, managing this centralized approached to process control has of itself become a gargantuan task, not least due to the rat’s nest of cabling required to make it work. Indeed, the labyrinthine nature of modern factories, with ever-increasing numbers of sensors, actuators, motors, solenoids and valves, has driven the requirement for industrial controllers to have an increasing number of channels required to interpret data, make decisions and respond. Nowadays, 57 is not far below the 64-channel capacity of high-end Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) used in industrial automation and process control systems (Figure 1). By comparison with the unquantifiable number of cable (and internet) TV channels available today, at that time, it probably represented quite a large degree of choice for Saturday night viewing. “57 channels (And Nothin’ On)” sang Bruce Springsteen back in 1992. We also show a digital IO IC that allows for smaller, more adaptable programmable logic controllers (PLCs) more suited to this developing architecture. In this design solution, we briefly review the centralized approach before looking at what potential changes edge computing will bring to the factory floor. However, a change of approach, in the guise of edge computing, has appeared on the horizon. While attempts have been made to simplify this task, it still remains unwieldy. As factories get bigger, centralized industrial process control has become difficult to manage.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |