Latest Oil & Gas Articles

Beckhoff Automation is advancing the concept of reducing cabinet space and lowering construction time with their recently…

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

Redundancy and safety are often seen together in industrial safety systems. Safety relays monitor emergency devices to…

Redundancy and safety are often seen together in industrial safety systems. Safety relays monitor emergency devices to switch contacts based on status - but what makes them different from normal relays?

ANYbotics announces the release of its new four-legged inspection bot, ANYmal X, for use in extreme environments,…

ANYbotics announces the release of its new four-legged inspection bot, ANYmal X, for use in extreme environments, designed specifically for the oil & gas and chemical industries.

This article covers the prominent IEC 60870 standard for SCADA in electrical power systems, as well as background…

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.

With the increasing appearance of “web-based” HMIs, we investigate these devices, learn how they differ from the…

With the increasing appearance of “web-based” HMIs, we investigate these devices, learn how they differ from the graphical HMIs, and see implications for our modern control system architecture.

Commander S series of variable frequency drives from Control Techniques enables parameter upload and download as well as…

Commander S series of variable frequency drives from Control Techniques enables parameter upload and download as well as performance monitoring through secure NFC, app-based communication.

AC motors are common throughout industry - easily controlled by VFDs and without the maintenance that comes with DC…

AC motors are common throughout industry - easily controlled by VFDs and without the maintenance that comes with DC brushes. So then, why are DC motors still used in certain applications?

New non-obstructive sensor series adapts to a wider variety of piping materials, providing accurate data with lower…

New non-obstructive sensor series adapts to a wider variety of piping materials, providing accurate data with lower influence from viscosity and bubbles.

Before digital control systems, responses were fairly slow. Push a button, and a motor contactor engaged. These days, the…

Before digital control systems, responses were fairly slow. Push a button, and a motor contactor engaged. These days, the speed of computers introduces some new challenges but brings solutions as well.

ASRock Industrial announces the new iEP-5000G family of IoT controllers with power inputs, tolerances, and IO…

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

Modbus is a communication protocol stemming from the early days of Modicon PLCs, but is still common today. These two…

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.

Banner Engineering recently released a series of programmable multicolor (RGB) indicators for advanced industrial machine…

Banner Engineering recently released a series of programmable multicolor (RGB) indicators for advanced industrial machine status and diagnostics.

The objective of predictive maintenance is to foresee potential machine failure with the help of machine learning…

The objective of predictive maintenance is to foresee potential machine failure with the help of machine learning algorithms provided with vast quantities of data.

Labels are such a small detail in the world of robotics and automation, they are often given very little attention.…

Labels are such a small detail in the world of robotics and automation, they are often given very little attention. However, they play a vital role in proper system function - from installation to troubleshooting.

Inductive loads, such as solenoids and contactors, can cause arcs and failures back into electromechanical switching…

Inductive loads, such as solenoids and contactors, can cause arcs and failures back into electromechanical switching devices, causing costly downtime. The solution is cheaper than you think.

Moisture inside industrial pneumatic systems is a major cause for concern, and if the air is not filtered or dried…

Moisture inside industrial pneumatic systems is a major cause for concern, and if the air is not filtered or dried properly, it can lead to serious failures.

Failures of I/O systems are a common source of headache for control engineers. Troubleshooting those devices that have…

Failures of I/O systems are a common source of headache for control engineers. Troubleshooting those devices that have polarized connections (source vs sink, and NPN vs PNP) is a technique worth refining.

Autonomous underwater vehicles were used to find Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, which sank on an exploration mission…

Autonomous underwater vehicles were used to find Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, which sank on an exploration mission over a century ago into the freezing depths of the Weddell Sea in Antarctica.

Phoenix Contact’s new CAPAROC system of low-voltage circuit breakers provides remote reset functions as well as…

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.