Out of this world camerawork! - NASA successfully landed the Perseverance Rover on Mars on February 18th 2021. Though not the first Mars mission, it was the first time that the entry, descent, and landing of a spacecraft was filmed and broadcasted live for the public to watch and virtually participate in. 6 FLIR machine vision cameras captured the event from multiple angles, documenting all stages of the thrilling touchdown.

Securing ICS networks. - This edition of AUTOMATION 2021 shows you strategies and solutions for securing OT/ICS networks. Discover a useful security framework that presents information in matrices arranged by attack stages, how to use a risk assessment to start securing OT systems, and even how better management of code and configuration changes can reduce risk.

Terminal blocks. - The 0171 series of push-in-design (PID) terminal blocks are now available from Dinkle International. These provide high-reliability connections and clear indication of active circuits to assist with operations, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

Disjointed data utilisation, causes lack of visibility and control. - Project business executives typically have very little visibility into the current real-time status of their projects and therefore the business as a whole. Decision-making becomes extremely difficult for large manufacturers of project business operations with limited, outdated and inaccurate information. (Thomas R Cutler)

Robotics in the summer! - The EPSRC UK Robotics & Autonomous Systems (UK-RAS Network) has announced the programme for its first Robotics Summer Showcase – a unique summer-long showcase of the cutting-edge in British robotics research and innovation. This programme will run from May to July, and launches on Wednesday 5th May 2021.

EarnÁil an phlaistigh a athrú ó bhun. - Tá Novelplast Teo, cliantchomhlacht de chuid údarás na Gaeltachta, mar chuid de ghrúpa eagraíochtaí atá chun tabhairt faoi thaighde a bhfuil sé mar aidhm aige earnáil an phlaistigh a athrú ó bhun. In English Language.

Controlling nitrogen oxide emissions. - Environmental regulations are changing at a rapid pace, but many emissions monitoring systems are still operating with obsolete instrumentation, increasing system availability risk, non-compliance penalties, operating costs and shutdowns. It is becoming even more critical for plant operators to select the right technology to keep pace with increasingly stringent emissions regulations. This eBook from Emerson will help.

Process Data from the Ground Up - The "Flux Capacitor" may have made time travel possible in the movie Back to the Future, but the control loop is what makes industrial automation possible. The humble control loop is the foundation of the distributed control system (DCS), and it does its job very well. The DCS receives source data sent to it from the measuring devices in the field, and then uses that data to make control decisions for the process based on parameters, which skilled operators set and monitor. (Inside Automation)

IIoT manufacturing platform selected. - Mercury Systems has selected Aegis' FactoryLogix® platform across 16 Factory Locations. By implementing a holistic Manufacturing 4.0 platform, Mercury will rapidly achieve a digital transformation that supports global standardization and offers extensive yet effortless configurability to support unique requirements at the local level.

Native digital process automation on AWS. - Moderna’s award-winning cGMP clinical development manufacturing facility—based in Norwood, Mass.—has a native digital process automation design built on Amazon Web Services (AWS). It serves as a great example of the integration of an entire manufacturing business using the latest technological building blocks, architecture and IoT ecosystem. (Bill Lydon, Automation.com)

Simpler access to IIoT. - Harting highlight the right infrastructure for the road to the IIoT, including solutions such as the RJ Industrial® MultiFeature, a significantly improved version of the classic RJ45.

Accelerating industrial analytics. - Seeq Corporation has just announced a new offering on Amazon Web Services (AWS) to accelerate access to manufacturing data for enabling AWS analytics on industrial data. The Seeq AWS Glue integration for Enterprise Historians, available on AWS Marketplace, simplifies industrial data discovery and migration to the AWS cloud using Seeq’s proven historian data access architecture.

HMI in Ex Zone 1. - For toluol supply facilities in zone 1, the customer required a system with a zone 2 panel by Siemens as well as the touch function of the twelve inch widescreen TFT display retained even under harsh industrial conditions. Quintex GmbH was able to win an order with a leading manufacturer and OEM for sealing systems in the automobile industry together with its customer, Göhler Anlagentechnik.

Interface for weighing devices
Schnittstelle für Waagen. - The CAN in Automation (CiA) association has released version 2.0.0 of the CiA 461 profile specification series. This series comprises four parts specifying the CANopen interfaces of weighing devices. A simple CANopen weighing network consists of load cells, compensation sensors, scales and HMIs (human machine interface) or indicators. Such a network can comprise several devices of the same kind. Load cells and scales feature optionally locally or remotely connected compensation sensors.

Wireless load sensors and load cell telemetry. - Two new high-performance load sensor products from Strainsert Inc., based on license-free, 2.4GHz telemetry with a working range up to 800 metres, will facilitate straightforward and cost-effective installation for single- or multi-sensor use over long distances, problematic installations and otherwise challenging load measurement tasks.

Connecting PLCs to cloud! - Softing Industrial has launched an AWS Quick Start for its edgeConnector Siemens docker container application, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The Quick Start automatically deploys edgeConnector Siemens and AWS IoT SiteWise in the AWS cloud. It demonstrates how to connect Siemens PLCs to the AWS cloud in a secure and scalable way.

In-cylinder position sensor. - Novotechnik’s TM1 series linear position sensors are specifically designed for straightforward and direct integration within hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder pressure chambers. This recently announced sensor is available with full support from Variohm EuroSensor, this exceptionally durable sensor series is offered with CANopen or CAN SAE J1939 interfaces.

Connecting IO and Wi-Fi sensors to energy networks. - HMS Networks is now expanding its Ixxat® SG-gateway series for networking of energy components. Two new multi-IO versions allow traditional IO-sensors as well as sensors or devices in Wi-Fi networks to be connected to energy systems using IEC 61850 and IEC 60870. Users benefit from direct and seamless access to sensor data from the control room, as well as IIoT capabilities for monitoring, maintenance and forecasting purposes.

Checking-in on remote assets. - A networks increase in size, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain them through traditional, non-technology methods such as scheduled service engineer visits. Philippe Aretz, channel sales director at Ovarro, looks at one of the most important demands for telemetry systems: to establish a reliable communication network.

Safe current drivers. - Pepperl+Fuchs is completing its portfolio of SIL 3 isolated barriers for all types of signals - both as modules for DIN rail mounting and as isolating components for termination boards. Positioners in a SIL 3 application - which have always been available for digital signals from or into the field, and for analog measuring signals - can now be connected directly to the controller with a single interface module. A SIL 3 application must no longer be realized via the elaborate path of redundant SIL 2 devices.

Wall-mounting for connectors. - The metal housings in the Han® EMV and Han® HPR series are now available in versions that enable contact inserts to be mounted from the rear, an option that simplifies the placement of interfaces on switch cabinet walls, increases the installation speed and lowers costs in the long term.

Protect workers and equipment at oil and gas plants. - Gas detection systems are meant to protect workers in oil and gas plants by warning them if there is a toxic or combustible gas leak. Smart sensors for gas detection with analytical capabilities have been evolving, and they are bringing more benefits to the oil and gas industry. (InTech)

Substation switch for demanding applications. - A new managed industrial Ethernet switch designed to provide extremely resilient data communication networks in the most demanding substation automation applications has been introduced by Westermo. Assured network availability and zero data loss is essential to prevent disturbance to power distribution operations. The RedFox-5728 switch meets these requirements by operating and delivering the most robust networks in the extreme substation environments.

Conference now online! - Originally, The 17th international CAN Conference (iCC) was planned as two-day conference in Baden-Baden (Germany). However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was postponed. In February, CiA has re-scheduled the conference. The iCC now takes place from June 14 to June 17 as an online event. (Auf Deutsch)

Tomonori Morimura has been appointed as new Chief Operating Officer of Omron Electronic Components Europe.

"Your Future Automation" - Visionary applications such as predictive maintenance and highly efficient production even in batch size 1 seemingly belonged to the distant future but are suddenly within reach. From April 19, you can learn more about the technologies behind IIoT, the innovative IIoT components that Pepperl+Fuchs already offers, and how they can be used to implement specific applications, in the "IIoT" content block, one of the main topics of the fully digital "Digital Expo" by Pepperl+Fuchs.

Sulphuric acid and oleum monitoring. - The simultaneous monitoring of sulfuric acid and oleum with LiquiSonic® thus revolutionises the workflow in production plants. By saving time-consuming and inaccurate sampling with the help of simultaneous inline measurement, an increase in efficiency is possible immediately after installation of the measuring system.

Tidal energy collaboration - ÉireComposites, a design, manufacturing and testing company, with over 60 employees based in Indreabhán (IRL), is collaborating with other global leaders to develop and market a state-of-the-art marine hydrokinetic turbine. And when operational, this innovative power system will produce clean energy at a reduced cost, while increasing reliability and performance of electricity output. (Connacht Tribune)

RFID with integrated Industrial-Ethernet-Interface. - Pepperl+Fuchs is expanding its comprehensive portfolio of identification solutions with the introduction of the IUT-F190-B40 UHF RFID Reader, which offers an integrated industrial Ethernet interface and REST API.

Positioning and orientation by Satellite! - The AsteRx-i3 product family brings to market an array of next-generation receivers from plug-and-play navigation solutions to feature-rich receivers with raw measurement access. OEM boards are available for rapid integration as well as ruggedized receivers enclosed in a waterproof IP68 housing. Such product variety accommodates specific needs of various applications which require high accuracy positioning together with 3D orientation, heading, pitch and roll angles.

Electric actuators for high duty in Britain. - The recently announced (Feb 2021) Thomson Industries' Electrak® LL actuator series is available in Britain from the authorised distributor, Heason Technology.

Displacement measurement for large-scale structural monitoring tasks . - Positek’s PIPS™ non-contacting sensor technology, based on a simple, single coil design, delivers highly accurate and repeatable position feedback for linear, rotary and tilt displacement measurement. A wide range of product variants and Positek’s extensive custom design capability combine to provide users with novel and cost-efficient measurement verification solutions across all branches of industry and science.

Conference success - PI Germany has just wrapped up its first virtual PI Konferenz. The biennial event is a cornerstone for PI in Germany to educate our users and the community about the latest developments and the strategy of our technology portfolio. The four-day conference program included around 70 lectures, 8 workshops, and a podium discussion.

LIMS driving Automation and efficiency. - The MRGC has chosen Matrix Gemini LIMS to manage data in its laboratories. The LIMS links with the in-house Electronic Medical Records System (EMRS), and multiple equipment and instruments systems in its three major (core) laboratories to improve the efficiency and performance of their operations. The LIMS also provides statistical data to help the senior leadership team drive laboratory efficiency.

Safe Ultrasonic sensor. - Pepperl+Fuchs is expanding its product portfolio for ultrasonic sensors in the area of factory automation with the safe USi-safety US sensor system.

Intelligent electronic skin. - Sateco is breaking new ground and adding the capacitive silicone sensor SXTSC to its portfolio of established keypad systems. The elastomer sensor works according to the capacitive operating principle and can continuously measure both touch and compressive force. It is soft and flexible, can be shaped three-dimensionally, and is suitable for various applications such as automotive, VR, AR, gaming, robotics, medical technology and general industry.

Standardizing the delivery, performance of system integrators - As utilities increase the interconnectivity of their processes, they also add an increasing number of applications that are required to be implemented. With the rapid pace of innovation, partnering with a qualified system integrator who is aware of the latest technology and whether technologies are applicable to your business goals is valued. System integrators often work in many industries and have valuable cross-industry experience to share with your team. Addressing the challenges automation projects present early on will deliver a lower total cost of ownership. (Control Engineering)

3D vision system for automated inspection. - An exciting new 3D vision system is making inspecting parts in 3D as easy as using a 2D smart camera. While optical inspection in 3D previously required a great deal of programming but offered few benefits, Cognex's new technology brings better image quality, simplified application development, and a wide range of true 3D inspection tools - significantly expanding the range of applications in industrial automation.

In top quarter for management! - Intelliconnect have participated in the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) Management and Expectations Survey (MES) 2020. Overall Intelliconnect's management practices scored 0.84 on a scale from 0 to 1, compared to an average score of 0.60 across Great Britain. This places Intelliconnect in the top 25% of respondents.

More news from the Red Planet! - NASA's Perseverance rover has now spent its first months on the surface of Mars. The testing and deployment phase is proceeding well, and after the first technology demonstration with the Ingenuity helicopter, the rover is commencing the continuous scientific measurements. With the arrival of the humidity and pressure measurement instruments onboard Perseverance, the first meteorological network on another planet is being created.

IIoT-based manufacturing operations platform selected. - Omega EMS, the leading electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider for complex manufacturing projects, has selected Aegis Software's FactoryLogix® platform. By implementing a digital transformation strategy throughout their high-mix, complex production facility, with Aegis' FactoryLogix solution, Omega EMS aims to support their ongoing growth and commitment to delivering superior products and customer service.

Print your cake and eat it! (off subject but...) - Eddie is the world's first-and-only NSF and GMP-certified edible ink desktop printer for printing directly onto cookies and other food items. DTM Print, international OEM and solution provider for specialty printing systems, has introduced the manual feed option along with custom food trays to make Eddie a very versatile to use food printer.

Test rig technology that talks the torque! - The Bifold Group has adopted radio frequency based torque transducers from Sensor Technology for two of its specialist test rigs to analyse the long term performance and reliability of hard working valves and pumps.

Hartmut Bärtl has been appointed the new CFO of the drive and automation specialist Baumüller/

Completely new user interface. - Eplan is be presenting a first look at the coming Eplan Platform at the at the Hannover Messe Digital Edition. It is being launched in the summer. A completely new user interface with ribbon technology and dark mode is in tune with current software trends and further ensures ease of use. The new 2D graphic module and central device management provide optimum performance. The cloud service Eplan eManage ensures integrated engineering with the combination of on-premise and cloud. The changeover to the new subscription model will make the use of the software even more flexible.

Continued growth for industrial networks despite pandemic. - Every year, HMS Networks carries out a study* of the industrial network market to analyze the distribution of new connected nodes in factory automation. This year's study shows that, despite the Corona pandemic, the industrial network market is expected it to grow by 6% in 2021.

Photonics and microelectronic device packaging. - Palomar Technologies are offering a webinar achieving die bonding flexibility for the next-generation of photonics packaging currently in development. (28th Apl 2021)

SCADA & HMI e-book - Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems and human-machine interfaces (HMIs) are a mainstay for engineers and allow them to better perform their tasks in a variety of industries are described in this downloadable e-book.

Easy-to-use display interface board. - KOE (Kaohsiung Opto-Electronics) has announced the introduction of an easy-to-use display interface board. KARD, which is derived from a combination of 'KOE' and 'Card', has been designed and developed to provide a convenient, efficient solution to drive and evaluate KOE TFT display modules.

Valve for heavy slurry service. - Emerson's Clarkson™ KS1 Knife Gate Valve is a true bi-directional, full bore, ASME Class 150 valve designed for the rigours of heavy slurry service. Its advanced, patented sealing system delivers zero-leakage isolation for longer, enabling increased run time and throughput.

Forbairt ag déantóir bithábhair. -

Industrial control system (ICS) security attacks are a given, but they are relatively rare and should be dealt with. - The industrial control system (ICS) security community and asset owners need to grow up in 2021. There is near hysteria whenever there is an actual, potential or mythical breach of an ICS, regardless of the impact. This is in an environment where the number and consequences of successful attacks on ICS is very small compared to other production outage or degradation causes. The outgrowth of this hysteria are recommendations to deploy more and more security controls, without regard to actual risk reduction achieved for the required resources. 2021 is the year where we learn to live with the reality that cyber attacks on ICS will sometimes succeed and focus or recovery and resilience after the breach. (Dale Peterson in Control Engineering)

Training courses for fundamentals of pneumatic system design and operation. - Drawing on its experiences as a manufacturer and employer, Festo has been running training courses for many years that take engineers through the fundamentals of pneumatic system design and operation. It has recently added a new course, available from July 2021, that focuses on troubleshooting and fault diagnosis to further improve skill levels in the pneumatic systems arena.

Helping CERN bringing about a “second quantum revolution. - CryoCoax has joined other technology specialists in sponsoring the CERN Quantum Technology Initiative (QTI). The programme will explore the potential of devices harnessing perplexing quantum phenomena such as entanglement to enrich and expand its challenging research programme.

Automomous mobile robots. - Baumüller has announced a cooperation with SESTO Robotics in Singapore. It is strengthening its system and solution business with autonomous mobile robots (AMR) for the agile production of the future.

Certified standard for information security. - Endress+Hauser reports that it has taken the next step toward achieving the highest standard in digital product and services security. After achieving the demanding StarAudit certification, Endress+Hauser Digital Solutions has been awarded the internationally recognized ISO 27001 certification for its comprehensive information security management system. In addition, confirmation has been received that the Netilion IIoT ecosystem fulfills the requirements of ISO 27017, a standard designed specifically for cloud application information security.

Disruption for gas monitoring market! - 'Thinking out of the box' is usually a phrase that R&D engineers use as a metaphor for looking at a challenge from a different perspective, but at Signal Group, the technology development team have taken the phrase to a new level. Following an intensive development program, the company has announced that all of their main line S4 gas analysers are now available with a detachable Tablet instead of the traditional built-in screen.

Current sensor element and firmware upgrade. - Yokogawa has launched a new Current Sensor Element and upgraded the firmware for its WT5000 Precision Power Analyzer. The enhancements are designed to help companies improve performance when developing or evaluating electronic devices such as Electric Vehicle (EV) related equipment or systems for solar and wind power installations.

Thermal imaging camera module. - The Boson® camera core represents the best in FLIR high-performance uncooled thermal imaging technology within a small, lightweight, and low-power package, and now customers will have the option to purchase radiometric versions that can capture the temperature data of every pixel in the scene. This radiometric camera core comes in two versions, 640 x 512 or 320 x 256 resolutions with multiple lens configurations and the ability to capture temperature data for quantitative assessment.

Highest cyber security standard. - TUuml;V Rheinland has confirmed that the product development processes and product life cycles at Endress+Hauser meet the IEC 62443-4-1 international industry standard for cyber security. By adhering to this certified guideline, the company ensures that its products contribute to the reliability and security of its customers’ plants.

Piezo resistive pressure transducers. - Variohm EuroSensor offers a comprehensive range of pressure transducers that find widespread use for measurement and monitoring tasks in industrial machinery, medical equipment, science and research projects, automotive engineering and test, and many other areas.

Natural gas analyser. - The J22 TDLAS Gas Analyzer has been launched by SpectraSensors, An Endress+Hauser company. . This new product addresses multiple issues with traditional technologies used for the measurement of moisture content in natural gas, while providing additional benefits.

Automating the Final Manual Frontier. - The last area where plants tend to give up manual monitoring and take up automation is asset health management. Here's why operations and maintenance teams must take this critical step. "The process shut down in mid-operation because of an equipment failure that should have been anticipated and fixed before a complete breakdown, but nobody could connect the dots and recognize the indications of the developing problem. Device diagnostic data was available but remained lost in log files of the control system where technicians could not access it." (InTech Focus)

Investments in connectivity technologies drive innovation gaining competitive advantage. - A newly commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Analog Devices has been announced. This study shows that industrial manufacturers who have made investments in connectivity technologies ("high maturity") are better positioned to drive innovation and gain a competitive advantage compared to firms that have been slower to implement connectivity ("low maturity") across the factory floor.

Touchless control. - A new addition to Omron's B5W series of optical sensors has been announced. The new B5W-DB diffuse reflector sensor has a longer sensing distance of 550mm, longer than light convergent resistance sensors of the same size making it ideal for COVID safe user interfaces.

Projects from the cloud! - The digital transformation of engineering continues advancing. As part of its cloud services, Eplan prsents a new service for cross-project collaboration – Eplan eManage – letting users upload Eplan Platform projects into the cloud environment and share and work on them there. The free version was launched in mid-March – an expanded, paid version will follow next August (2021).

Conveying knowledge and experience. - The OPC Foundation publishes a series of interviews with experts, market leaders and think tanks in communication, automation and industrial IT to highlight the benefits and the potential of the OPC UA technology for end users, system integrators, operators in the world of industrial IoT.

Ethernet remote I/O modules. - Acromag's new BusWorks® NT series remote I/O modules provide an Ethernet interface for analog, discrete and temperature signals. NTE Ethernet I/O models have dual RJ45 ports and a webserver with Modbus TCP/IP communication to monitor or control the internal I/O channels.

Know where to start with control loop tuning. - Understanding proportional gain and integral time’s functions in control loop tuning values and how they work together is important. To determine initial control loop tuning values, users must first look at what type of process we are dealing with and understand what the primary tuning constants P (proportional gain) and I (integral time) do. (Control éngineering).

Thermal camera for condition monitoring and science applications. - The latest T-Series high-performance thermal camera, the FLIR T865 has been announced by FLIR Systems. Built for electrical condition and mechanical equipment inspection, and for use in research and development applications, the T865 provides ±1 °C (±1.6 °F) or ±1% temperature measurement accuracy, a wider temperature range between -40 °C to 120 °C (-40 °F to 248 °F), and more on-camera tools for improved analysis.

Draft spec issued. - The CAN in Automation association (CiA) has released their 110 CAN common mode choke specification as Draft Specification Proposal (DSP).

Bus error detection capabilities. - The Institute of Computer-Architecture and System-programming (ICAS) of the University of Kassel has examined the CAN XL data link layer protocol specified in CiA 610-1. More than half of a year, Prof. Dr. Josef Börcsök and his team investigated in the evaluation of the error detection mechanisms provided by the CAN XL protocol. The final research report comprises a qualitative evaluation of the residual error probability, too.

Uninterruptible power supply (300-1200kVA). - Delta Electronics has added the Ultron DPS model to its family of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), which now offers capacities ranging from 300-1200 kVA. This latest Ultron online UPS is rated at 1000-1200 kVA megawatt-scale performance with an extremely small footprint that makes the Ultron DPS UPS ideally suited for use in large and colocation data centres,

Innovative Product Presentations. - During the 2021 Hannover Messe Digital Edition (12 - 16 April 2021) Preview event, experts, associations, research organizations and suppliers presented their ideas and technologies for factories, energy systems and supply chains supporting "Industrial Transformation" theme. This preview from ISA subsidiary Automation.com.

From sheet metal to digital leader! - It is April 1, 1961, when an international success story begins in a small weaving mill in central Hesse - the standardization of enclosures. Rudolf Loh founds the Rittal company and changes the industry with one idea.

Over 7Gbps downlink (DL) achieved. - Anritsu Corporation's Radio Communication Test Station MT8000A has successfully achieved a downlink (DL) throughput over 7 Gbps using FR1+FR2 Dual Connectivity (DC) technology and 256QAM modulation in 5G Standalone (SA) mode in conjunction with MediaTek’s latest M80 5G modem. This industry-first achievement demonstrates Anritsu’s commitment to contribute to the development and wider rollout of new 5G services, which, through its collaboration with MediaTek, verifies leading-edge 5G technology features.