Ordinary vs. intelligent Sensor

I

Thread Starter

Iwan Awaludin

It's quite interesting that we have heard comparison of ordinary system and intelligent system.
Actually, what is the differences of ordinary and intelligent sensor. Is it the same between intelligent sensor and "integrating sensor with processor".
 
The intelligent sensor (like intelligent I/O, is beyond just processing - it does diagnostics, predictive diagnostics, operates peer-to-peer
on a network, maintains past history etc. The list of "intelligence" capabilities is expanding fast, as technology accelerates.

See my article : "The Intelligent, Connected Appliance", which was in START magazine May 00.
http://www.jimpinto.com/writings/appliance.html

An updated and expanded version of this article will be in Industrial Controls Intelligence & Plant Systems Report - July 00.

Cheers:
jim
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Jim Pinto
[email protected]
www.JimPinto.com
San Diego, CA - USA
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B
Unfortunately these days just about anything that has a microprocessor is called "smart". This is silly. A transmitter should not be called
intelligent, unless it's span, zero and elevation/suppression can be adjusted from the control room and unless all its settings can be reconfigured from the screen of the DCS system.

Bela
 
L
Bela writes:

>>>> Unfortunately these days just about anything that has a
microprocessor is called "smart". This is silly. A transmitter should
not be called intelligent, unless it's span, zero and
elevation/suppression can be adjusted from the control room and unless
all its settings can be reconfigured from the screen of the DCS system. <<<<


Be careful not to get caught up in the trap of functions vs functionality. Historically, field instruments (and I include valves and other devices besides just sensors) had a single function and communicated a single data value related to the process. Now instruments are becoming data servers in their own right and can
process and communicate lots of data. Some instruments can even perform control functions including PID right on board.
Interestingly, however, most of the data may not even be process control related per se. So there is a spectrum of on board intelligence running from dumb to very smart. So what?

The value comes from exploiting the intelligence.


Jim writes:

>>>> The intelligent sensor (like intelligent I/O, is beyond just
processing - it does diagnostics, predictive diagnostics, operates
peer-to-peer on a network, maintains past history etc. The list of
"intelligence" capabilities is expanding fast, as technology accelerates. <<<<


It's exciting, isn't it? And here is where the value derives. It is one thing to implement and tune controls for "best" performance, but it is quite another to sustain that performance over long periods.
Another issue we all wrestle with is operator training. As automation gets "better" operators face fewer process upsets and lose some of that "good old hands on familiarity" with the process that they had when there was less automation. So intelligent field devices can help save their bacon by alerting them to problems before they become serious. There is an area of development that is evolving that is
often referred to as abnormal situation management or something similar. IMHO, this is complementary and somewhat analogous to advanced control and optimization. In fact, I could make a decent argument that it is above optimization in the traditional hierarchial view of automation. But it is only beginning to be realized as intelligent field devices and fieldbusses take their rightful place as
technology enablers.

So before you go to war over what are the differences between ordinary vs intelligent sensors or even between one fieldbus and another, take a breath and think about what you are trying to achieve. And then ask yourself what else might be possible. Then begin to specify/design
the automation system that get you there and give you the foundation to continue to adopt advancing technology. Or not, your choice. One definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over again and expecting to achieve a different outcome.

Regards,

Lou Heavner
Emerson Performance Solutions
<[email protected]>
 
W
Lou, your post reminds me of this lesson:

God asked all the simians in the Garden to gather with Him to help him create a super-simian. The Gorillas thought he needed huge muscles. The monkeys thought he needed a loud voice and a long
tail. The chimps thought he needed long arms. And the Lord thought long into the future and created Man. He didn't have big muscles. Gorillas can easily beat men at contests of strength. He didn't even have a tail, so his ability to swing through the trees was somewhat limited. He didn't have the loudest of voices, and his legs were longer than his arms. But he had a better brain, and could use it to make up for all these things. And when he couldn't, he could run like hell.

The point of the story, Grasshopper, is that when the future arrives, it never looks the way it was supposed to be.

Anybody interested in a good book? Read "Funky Business: Talent Makes Capital Dance". It is a wonderful book about this same point. You see, Marx, Engels, Lenin, et al won, and it didn't
matter. The workers own the means of production, and capitalism is stronger than ever. See? The future never gives us what we think it will.

Walt Boyes

----------------------------------------------------------
Walt Boyes--MarketingPractice Consultants
21118 SE 278th Place - Maple Valley, WA 98038
425-432-8262 home office - 253-709-5046 cellphone
eFax: 801-749-7142 - email: [email protected]
http://www.waltboyes.com
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B

Brian Dickson

Bela:

A sensor is intelligent if it has the advanced functions and diagnostics as Jim described. Most intelligent transmitters are also "smart"; meaning they can communicate with a host. Functions such as re-range, elevation/ suppression, and span are no longer needed as you now have a digitally integrated intelligent device. The sensor becomes part of the system, with common alarming and configuration features.

Best regards,

Brian
 
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