SCADA Gets an Augmented Reality (AR) Upgrade at Mitsubishi Electric
Mitsubishi Electric has released two new types of software for system monitoring and process control.
As part of the GENESIS64 series, the new products replace the company’s MC Works64 supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software.
An overview of the GENESIS64 software capabilities. Image used courtesy of Mitsubishi Electric
The new lineup was designed to meet the diversifying needs arising from various Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
The Previous MC Works64 SCADA Software
First released in 2014, Mitsubishi Electric’s MC Works64 SCADA software introduced 64-bit multi-core, multi-processor computing on 64-bit Microsoft operating systems. It was, therefore, the first 64-bit advanced workstation (B-AWS) certified by the
BACnet Testing Laboratories to ensure maximum integration with the BACnet protocol.
A native .NET application, MC Works64 was designed to deliver efficient HMI/SCADA performance while retaining open platform communications (OPC) and BACnet open-standard connectivity.
Upon release, the MC Works64 suite included numerous solutions aimed at allowing connectivity from the plant floor and building facilities to corporate business systems. In other words, it enabled plant operators and IT professionals to integrate real-time manufacturing and business information into a secure and shared web-enabled visualization dashboard.
Now, to support the increasing focus on digital manufacturing and IoT, Mitsubishi Electric is building upon the MC Works64 suite to enhance its SCADA lineup with the addition of the GENESIS64 series.
The GENESIS64 Basic and Advanced Application Server
The new series includes two software products: the GENESIS64 Basic SCADA and the GENESIS64 Advanced Application Server.
GENESIS64 collects data from the shop floor, runs it through redundant systems, then up to the distributed control system (DCS) for data analysis. Image used courtesy of Mitsubishi Electric
The Basic is an entry-level software that enables data visualization in small applications and can also be scaled up to medium ones via the installation of optional add-ons.
The GENESIS64 Advanced Application Server, on the other hand, is a full SCADA suite intended for large-scale monitoring of factories, buildings, and utilities. The software is designed to help administrators create a serverless system using cloud computing, facilitating the design and assembly of redundant, multi-location, large-scale systems.
Designed for IoT Applications
The GENESIS64 Advanced Application Server software also offers a series of smart features specifically aimed at IoT applications.
For instance, the software is compatible with wearable devices such as smart glasses and smartwatches to provide employers with remote monitoring or assistance capabilities. The solution can also be operated by voice commands via artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smart assistant speakers, thus introducing a touchless option to reduce risks of viral or bacterial transmissions.
Touchless AR control facilitates remote monitoring. Image used courtesy of Mitsubishi Electric
Mitsubishi Electric’s SCADA solutions are the fruit of a collaboration between the company’s hardware and software by ICONICS, a SCADA and IoT analysis software that Mitsubishi Electric acquired in 2019.
The acquisition’s first results were showcased in the direct connection of Mitsubishi Electric PLCs to the GENESIS64 SCADA software. This not only helped achieve automatic detection and quicker startup times, but also eliminated the need for an OPC server, bringing Mitsubishi Electric’s SCADA software beyond the MC Works64 suite capabilities.
What do you think about the new SCADA products by Mitsubishi Electric compared to other SCADA products?
