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Up Close and Personal With Automated Ag Equipment

Up Close and Personal With Automated Ag Equipment

Our Control Automation engineering staff got the chance to visit a commercial farm in North Dakota and learn the hardware and software making these huge automated tractors ready for high-tech ‘field’ work.


Keyence Announces New NQ IO-Link Master Module

Keyence Announces New NQ IO-Link Master Module

The Keyence Corporation recently announced the NQ series network communication module, with the ability to automatically detect any Keyence branded IO-Link devices for rapid installation and monitoring.


News Apr 30, 2022 by David Peterson
Banner Engineering’s Snap Signal System for Easy IIoT Development

Banner Engineering’s Snap Signal System for Easy IIoT Development

The Snap Signal System by Banner Engineering brings industrial IoT to all devices, including sensors and actuators - regardless of age or origin.


News Apr 26, 2022 by Seth Price
Replacing a Control Cabinet with Modules? Beckhoff Says Yes!

Replacing a Control Cabinet with Modules? Beckhoff Says Yes!

Beckhoff Automation is advancing the concept of reducing cabinet space and lowering construction time with their recently announced MX-System.


News Apr 21, 2022 by Shawn Dietrich
How-To: Programming with IO-Link Devices

How-To: Programming with IO-Link Devices

Advanced features such as programmable limits, diagnostics, and remote configuration are available with IO-Link devices. Learn how to connect an example IO-Link block into an actual PLC project.


Industrial Protocol Standards and The IEC

Industrial Protocol Standards and The IEC

This article covers the prominent IEC 60870 standard for SCADA in electrical power systems, as well as background information on the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the publishing organization.


ASRock Industrial Introduces IoT Controller for Factory Automation

ASRock Industrial Introduces IoT Controller for Factory Automation

ASRock Industrial announces the new iEP-5000G family of IoT controllers with power inputs, tolerances, and IO communication capabilities designed for the factory floor.


News Apr 06, 2022 by Shawn Dietrich
How-To: Building a PLC Project with Modbus Communication

How-To: Building a PLC Project with Modbus Communication

Modbus is a communication protocol stemming from the early days of Modicon PLCs, but is still common today. These two example implementations of Modbus transactions will get you started.


Beijer Electronics Releases New M-Series of Distributed I/O Modules

Beijer Electronics Releases New M-Series of Distributed I/O Modules

Beijer Electronics recently announced the M Series of distributed I/O to provide on-machine control with a variety of communication options for system flexibility.


News Mar 31, 2022 by Shawn Dietrich
Phoenix Contact Releases New Line of Data-Driven Circuit Breakers

Phoenix Contact Releases New Line of Data-Driven Circuit Breakers

Phoenix Contact’s new CAPAROC system of low-voltage circuit breakers provides remote reset functions as well as discrete and networked access to branch circuit data for rapid troubleshooting.


News Mar 23, 2022 by Shawn Dietrich
SPC Pillar: Continual Improvement Process (CIP)

SPC Pillar: Continual Improvement Process (CIP)

Statistical process control (SPC) allows for continual improvement process (CIP), a method of optimizing a process driven by data and statistical methods.


Time is Running Out: Cowen Startup Challenge at Automate 2022

Time is Running Out: Cowen Startup Challenge at Automate 2022

The window is closing for submissions to a funding competition - robotics, machine vision, and AI innovations are taking the center stage for a chance at winning $10,000. Are you ready?


News Mar 15, 2022 by David Peterson
Women in Computer Science and the Impact on Modern Control Systems

Women in Computer Science and the Impact on Modern Control Systems

In honor of Women's History Month, we explore the ways in which computer science is integral to the design of control systems and how women of the past have shaped the field of control systems today.


News Mar 15, 2022 by Stephanie Leonida
Choosing The Right Cables for Industrial Automation

Choosing The Right Cables for Industrial Automation

Industrial automation is only possible when the various system components can communicate with each other using physical cable connections. In this article, learn about some of the most popular communication cables and connectors used in the industry.


IoT Leaders Commit to OPC-UA Adoption for Edge-to-Cloud Applications

IoT Leaders Commit to OPC-UA Adoption for Edge-to-Cloud Applications

Big players in the tech industry providing artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions to the industrial automation sector are committing to OPC-UA adoption to enhance interoperability.


News Mar 03, 2022 by Stephanie Leonida
Comparing Industrial Ethernet Protocols

Comparing Industrial Ethernet Protocols

This article reviews and compares some of the most prominent industrial Ethernet protocols.


Differences and Relationship Between IT and OT in Industrial Facilities

Differences and Relationship Between IT and OT in Industrial Facilities

We’re all familiar with information technology, or IT. The computer systems, hardware, internet, and various software we use in our own homes and offices are mostly IT. But when it comes to industrial workplaces, the rules are different.


Insights into Nontraditional Digitized Facilities of the Modern Age

Insights into Nontraditional Digitized Facilities of the Modern Age

Globally recognized companies and pioneering start-ups offer up technological stepping stones toward non-traditional digitized facilities required for Industry 4.0 operations.


News Feb 22, 2022 by Stephanie Leonida
Calibrating Digital Twins With Operational Data Optimizes Efficiency

Calibrating Digital Twins With Operational Data Optimizes Efficiency

Data feedback loops create a closed-loop digital twin (CLDT) driving increased operational efficiency and improved design iteration progress.


Introduction to Allen-Bradley Data Highway (DH) Networks

Introduction to Allen-Bradley Data Highway (DH) Networks

In this article, learn the basics of Allen-Bradley Data Highway, the various network structures, and the relationship between DH and Ethernet networks.