Articles
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The irony of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is that it requires architectures that enable quick, in some cases real-time iteration and change from markets that often rely on industrial control systems (ICSs) that aren’t modified, upgraded, or replaced for years; in some cases, decades. There are several factors that contribute to the [...]
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IIC Connectivity Framework defines IIoT network architecture for scalable interoperability
Without question, the biggest obstacle facing widespread adoption of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is interoperability. From a high level, one impediment is the very loose classification of “industrial,” which spans a wide range of vertical markets, including energy and utilities, manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare, to name a few. At a more granular level, [...]
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Departing from proprietary Ethernet and exploiting Industrial IoT value with Time-Sensitive Networking
Industrial networks have long been plagued by interoperability issues stemming from a mix of proprietary communications technologies, even within single families of standards such as Ethernet. If not rectified, this incompatibility will slow the adoption of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) rollouts that must be able to communicate across layers of network infrastructure to [...]
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Rise of the logistics robots
Robot control systems have progressed from simple relay logic to highly sophisticated dedicated controllers. Current system algorithms for the more capable autonomous robots require the latest processor capability and often require custom computer system design. With the improved computational capabilities come additional robot capabilities, including completely autonomous operation in complex, dynamic environments. Robots are available [...]
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Migrating industrial operations data directly to the cloud with OPC UA
In this follow up to an interview with Martin Rostan of the EtherCAT Technology Group, Industrial Embedded Systems spoke with Thomas J. Burke, President and Executive Director of the OPC Foundation on a recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two organizations, and how industry partnerships are taking hold on the Internet of Things (IoT) [...]
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Inside the mind of machines: AI modeling scales security, analytics on the Industrial Internet
The advent of the Industrial Internet has raised the bar for security analysts and data scientists, a workforce whose number is quickly being dwarfed by the amount of connected machines. Now, machine learning and artificial intelligence professionals are teaming with traditional embedded vendors to help suppress the rising tide of cyber threats and Big Data. [...]
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Industrial motion control: Software creates better value and performance than hardware
Embedded OEMs – especially those whose products have complex human-machine interfaces (HMIs), manage many degrees of motion, and require hard real-time operation – have traditionally relied on field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and digital signal processors (DSPs) to meet the precision and performance requirements of machine vision and motion control applications. Today, that hardware-centric model [...]
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Industrial Internet through the wire with EtherCAT Technology Group
With all the fuss around wireless connectivity for the Internet of Things (IoT), it’s sometimes easy to forget that the backbone of industrial systems is built on wired fieldbus technologies. While some of those legacy fieldbus technologies are starting to give way, EtherCAT, the “Ethernet Fieldbus” is not only continuing to succeed in industrial [...]
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How to preserve signal-chain integrity when interfacing microcontrollers with DACs
A microcontroller is one of the most power-hungry components in an industrial system. As the Industry 4.0 standard becomes more popular, microcontrollers are taking on more and more of a computing burden. As a consequence, we are seeing an explosive increase in microcontroller power consumption. One way to manage power is to reduce the supply [...]
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How system operating conditions affect CMOS op amp open-loop gain and output impedance
Operational amplifiers (op amps) are used in many systems across a broad range of applications. These systems operate over a wide range of conditions, including temperature, power supply voltages, common-mode voltages, output loading, and product lifetimes. Op amp open-loop gain (AOL) and open-loop output impedance (ZO) are the two main small-signal AC parameters that [...]
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Sensor processing platforms add performance, cut SWaP for the Industrial Internet
As the Industrial Internet demands more out of resource-constrained industrial data acquisition systems, sensor processing platforms are required to add performance while reducing size, weight, and power (SWaP). Rubin Dhillon, Marketing Director of the Embedded Systems division at GE Intelligent Platforms discusses his company’s approach to developing “brilliant machines,” and how off-the-shelf hardware is enabling these sensor platforms for the Industrial Internet.
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Industrial Internet Consortium: Purpose and membership
This is the first of in a series of articles describing the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC). The first entry describes the goals, membership, and a broad outline of its work.
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Protocol gateways make IoT efficient, accurate, and low cost
Having complete and current data about any process can result in better decision making. One of the primary benefits of the Internet of Things (IoT), sometimes called the Industrial Internet, is that companies can make improvements in production processes, end products, and logistics that reduce costs and energy usage. By capturing and centralizing information from all the pieces/parts of production and doing so in a timely, automatic, non-intrusive manner, analytics programs can find places for these improvements.
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Industrial Internet of Things ñ How much will manufacturing devices be networked?
The IIoT is changing manufacturing from an “old-fashioned” and “conservative” industry to one that is more interactive and in line with the consumer experience. However, the past few years have shown this process to be quite slo...
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Five keys to securing the IIoT data pipe
Industrial systems have traditionally had connectivity at least at some level, so why with the dawn of the Industrial Internet (or Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)) has security now become such a poignant issue?
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Safety-certified software advances on multicore SoCs
Rather than the discrete, single-function platforms of the past, today's industrial systems are built around multicore processors that are increasingly packing performance into compute equipment. Now, software developers are taking advantage of these multicore architectures with RTOS and hypervisor solutions that enable multifunction, safety-certifiable industrial systems that still retain their deterministic nature.
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Best practices in meeting oil and gas data acquisition needs
Service providers must carefully evaluate available computing options to find the optimal intelligent system.
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The rise of Industrial/Enterprise IoT
As the IoT hype peaks, the time has come for marketing to become implementation, for promise to become fulfillment. However, not all variants of the IoT are created equal, and this interview with Steve Jennis, Senior Vice President, PrismTech, reveals how the Industrial/Enterprise IoT differs from consumer-oriented versions of the IoT, as well as the requirement for an Industrial IoT data connectivity architecture and projections for when the major industry players will make the IIoT a reality for big business.
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Industrial IoT: Robust connected embedded devices
The fast approaching revolution of industrial IoT (IIoT) differs from human IoT (HIoT, or what is often called IoT) and will evolve the embedded arena.
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Why use industrial standards? Reliability and verifiability
Embedded platforms are succumbing to the lure of low cost, often commercial, poor quality alternatives that contradict the very foundations of embedded computing.
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Embedded HMIs evolve to match consumer tech expectations in the factory
Through open standards, PC technology and networking advances, and cues from connected consumer devices, embedded Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) have enabled greater efficiency and capabilities in industrial applications.
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Industrial panel PCs make manufacturing smarter
The implementation of Panel PCs is revolutionizing production management and improving efficiency
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A secure industrial infrastructure for the connected age: Q&A with Doug Wylie, CISSP, Rockwell Automation
Securing Industry 4.0 networks demands a new approach to security that includes a rethink of current network arch
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Using Gigabit Ethernet to build future-proof networks
With industrial network demands increasing, the transition to Gigabit Ethernet architectures is upon us.
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Model-Based Design abstracts integrated software development: Q&A with Jim Tung, MathWorks Fellow
Jim Tung describes how Model-Based Design (MBD) brings a higher level of abstraction to Integrated Development Environments (IDEs).
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Challenges in migrating to an LCD-based design
With industrial displays migrating to LCD designs with more user-friendly interfaces, Varadarajan weighs the costs and benefits of various architectural options.
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What can an embedded PLC do for your controls solution?
Take control down a level - Single-chip PLCs simplify programming and ease system development for automation apps.
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Sensing networks in industrial automation
As sensor networks approach "Industry 4.0," should you bet on fieldbus or Ethernet? IHS' Tom Moore takes a closer look.
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Human out-of-the-loop manufacturing
Increasingly complexity in product portfolios requires a new approach to manufacturing. Enter Product Line Engineering.
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Ruggedizing RAM for industrial systems
When it comes to rugged computing, the ANSI/VITA 47-2005 (R2007) specification has earned its stripes as a guide for validation testing and product development.
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PC/104 in vehicles and industrial applications
This issue deals with in-vehicle and industrial applications, which means the discussion of how the PC/104 architecture has been and continues to be used has become that much more broad.
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Enhanced Cybersecurity Services: Protecting Critical Infrastructure
Enhanced Cybersecurity Services are under development by the DHS to provide information-sharing and defensive strategies against a new generation of cyber threats.
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Vision systems, image-based ID readers advance the world of industrial automation
Vision System on a Chip (VSoC) technology and machine vision-based 3D laser profilers are stepping up to the plate and hitting a homerun when it comes to improving read rates in the factory, says Cognex Corporation’s Market Development Manager Jo...
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Rugged COM Express: Empowering high-performance automation for an increasingly connected world
Industrial automation systems are performing more tasks and doing so more quickly, more accurately, and in harsher environments than ever before. They are becoming connected tools with substantially more computing and communication capabilities, allowing them to interoperate with other devices. As they evolve and proliferate, these systems put new demands on their computing technology. Rugged COM Express modules not only meet the computing needs of today’s rapidly changing industrial landscape, but also protect the investment to meet tomorrow’s performance needs.
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Managing machine safety and productivity with QorIQ multicore processors
Current legislation is now driving system feature requirements, specifically in the area of health and safety. This article focuses on the control subsystem (the programmable logic control function), and how multicore processors are helping to address safety requirements and provide additional functionality needed in industrial control.
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Retail expectations of industrial products
Embedded computing technology historically lags some years behind mainstream desktop computing. This is not something we take any shame in, actually quite the opposite.
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COMs tackle industrial automation systemsí reliability, versatility challenges
Q&A with Dr. Ron Valli, Director of Engineering, Americas, congatec
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HMIs: Write once, display anywhere
Players within the industrial control market have begun trying to take advantage of the mobility craze and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) concepts. High mobility essentially boils down to using smartphones, tablets, or laptop equipment to make jobs easie...
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Medical and industrial I/O gets Pico-sized
Pico-I/O shrinks processor I/O for medical and industrial applications.
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The industrial power conversion to optimized functionality - Q&A with Karim Wassef, GE Energy Power Electronics
In this Industrial Embedded Systems Q&A, Karim Wassef of GE Energy Power Electronics talks on nonisolated Point Of Load (POL) modules and how they are helping tighten the clamps on industrial power.
Brandon Lewis, Technology Editor
Jamie Leland, Content Assistant
Kunal Gandhi, Texas Instruments
Miro Oljaca, Texas Instruments
Collin Wells, Texas Instruments
Rory Dear, European Editor/Technical Contributor
