Volumes & issues:
Volume 15, Issue 4
August 2004
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- Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, page: 2 –2
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040414
- Type: Article
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- Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, page: 4 –4
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040401
- Type: Article
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Portsmouth claims it has become the first European city to build a mobile broadband network to bolster the use of its public transportation system. Officials hope the new computer and communication technology will help alleviate traffic congestion by encouraging the city's population to use public transit. The network is based on MeshNetworks Enabled Architecture (MEA), a mobile broadband solution provided by US based MeshNetworks, Inc (www.meshnetworks.com) and NOW Wireless (www.nowwireless.com), a UK wireless and networking specialist. The system, known as the Portsmouth Online Real Time Traveler (PORTAL) Information System, provides real-time travel information to passengers from more than 300 buses and is displayed at 45 locations including 36 bus stops and nine kiosks throughout the city. - Author(s): A. Bond
- Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, p. 6 –7
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040402
- Type: Article
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If you thought the arguments over plant floor communications were resolved by the ratification of an international fieldbus standard back in 2000, think again. The emergence of industrial Ethernet as the future physical and transport medium of choice puts the whole issue back in the melting pot. Today there is widespread recognition of Profibus as the clear leader for factory automation applications in Europe, but less widely appreciated is the fact that Interbus runs a surprisingly close second, that DeviceNet rides the manufacturing roost in North America, that Modbus, without the benefit of inclusion in either or any IEC standard, is still the protocol of choice for a large proportion of industrial automation applications or that, in Asia, CC-Link, hardly mentioned in Europe or North America, leads the field, again without benefit of an IEC accolade. Move the spotlight to the process automation sector and, if anything, the picture becomes even more confused. True, there are only two serious contenders: Profibus and Foundation Fieldbus (FF), but they can't even agree between themselves what actually constitutes a process application. - Author(s): M. Babb
- Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, page: 8 –8
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040403
- Type: Article
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FDT/DTM software communicates with field instrumentation in a process automation system, and displays the set-up parameters on an engineering console in the control room. It is intended to replace the need for handheld communicators and laptop computers with standardised configuration software -and the need for instrument engineers to go out to the site of the instrument and connect their equipment directly with it. The FDT (field device tool) frame application, as it is called, runs on the central computer and the various instrument manufacturers contribute DTM (device type manager) software modules that are the configuration tools for their products. FDT/DTM was designed for use on systems with Profibus communications, but in theory it could be adapted to any fieldbus. - Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, p. 10 –11
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040404
- Type: Article
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Emerson Process Management is collaborating with members of leading global standards groups to enhance Device Description Language (DDL) technology. After carefully considering user needs, Emerson believes enhanced DDL offers a better solution than a proposed alternative called Field Device Tool/Device Type Manager (FDT/DTM). DDL provides underlying technology for use by host suppliers to design robust human-machine interface (HMI) and automation interfaces, and enhancements being developed will add to this functionality. DDL-based field devices from all suppliers will interface identically to the various hosts. When host operating system changes are needed, the host suppliers have complete ability to make all upgrades; field device descriptions are unaffected. FDT/DTM technology development has recently been undertaken by the FDT Joint Interest Group (FDT JIG) as an alternative with goals described as similar to the DDL collaboration. While the goals are unarguable, Emerson's review of the FDT/DTM concept prompted concerns about important shortcomings for users based on technical issues. In Emerson's judgment, the proven DDL technology surpasses the FDT/DTM technology in meeting the following needs of end users: freedom of choice of instruments, equipment and systems; clarity and ease of use of HMI design and displays; streamlined integration of field devices; and efficient system upgrades. - Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, p. 12 –14
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040405
- Type: Article
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In a recent news release, [Emerson Process Management] took a strong stand against the Field Device Tool (FDT)/Device Type Manager (DTM) technology. The news release said that "...enhanced DDL offers a better solution than...FDT/DTM". The FDT Joint Interest Group (JIG) consists of 34 automation suppliers that do not agree with this major automation company's conclusion. Many if not all of the 34 automation suppliers in the FDT JIG have investments in DDL technology but at the same time agree that FDT technology picks up where enhanced DDL leaves off. Applications such as advanced visualisation and complex field device configuration, commissioning and management are requirements FDT/DTM technology fulfils. The FDT technology's starting point is to embrace and extend the capabilities of the DD technology. By definition both DDL and FDT technologies are necessary to satisfy the end users' needs. - Author(s): M. Millman
- Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, p. 15 –18
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040406
- Type: Article
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In the 1980s, machine vision surface inspection developed a bad name, because many application demands were greater than available software and hardware techniques. However, the situation has now changed. Vision systems easily out-perform human inspection. The PC has become the choice of system platforms for running a surface inspection vision system. - Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, page: 19 –19
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040407
- Type: Article
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The webSPECTOR is a non-application specific surface inspection system, which can be tailored to each application through a modular design. For example, for high data rate applications such as painted metal (>500m/min), there can be many PCs within the same camera plane, each looking at a portion of the web. The PCs communicate together via Ethernet, and essentially act as one machine. Low data rate applications may only have one PC per plane. There can be one or more cameras connected to each PC. Each camera plane is connected to the front end computer which acts as the co-ordinator and user front-end, again via Ethernet The Shelton webSPECTOR in its different forms has been successfully applied to applications such as lithographic sheet fibreglass veil, textile, and lace inspection. Since the functional requirements are essentially the same, it can be applied to most surface inspection applications such as non-wovens, rubber, aluminium, steel, plastic, rubber, laminated materials, composites and coated materials. - Author(s): S. Fu and C. Thompson
- Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, p. 20 –24
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040408
- Type: Article
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Visual signals are becoming an increasingly important information source for many automotive applications. But CCD cameras, radar, and lidar sensors by themselves aren't enough to solve the problem. The article looks at how they must become part of an intelligent sensing system. - Author(s): R. Wynn
- Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, p. 25 –27
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040409
- Type: Article
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Looks at how a new IEEE sensor standard will make it easier to set up and manage data acquisition systems that contain a large number of sensors, or for systems that must share sensor inputs. - Author(s): M. Peach
- Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, p. 28 –33
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040410
- Type: Article
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Looks at how, from consumer goods to the largest industrial plants, wireless functionality is finding new applications by the month. From removing the need for cabling to remote interrogation of devices, radio-based devices are on the march. As the proliferating wireless standards become approved, more developers are tuning in. - Author(s): C. Thomer
- Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, p. 34 –35
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040411
- Type: Article
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The tasks of digging ditches and laying cable lines are associated with high costs. These costs quickly multiply in view of the expense involved in development and inspection as well as in gaining approval before a project can get underway. Wherever obstacles such as streets, railway tracks or rivers need to be overcome, the industrial radio path offers new solutions at a fraction of the cost. - Author(s): A. Newbold
- Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, p. 36 –39
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040412
- Type: Article
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Looks at how a new breed of construction materials with the ability to manage RF signals is set to rock the foundations of the building industry. - Author(s): F. Wagner and P. Wolstenholme
- Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, p. 40 –45
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040413
- Type: Article
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In spite of its wide application in hardware design, the state machine concept is still not well understood or interpreted in the software domain. Misunderstandings have produced several stories and half-truths, and the concept has been reinvented several times - perhaps unintentionally - for software. We attempt to put the concept of a state machine in a proper perspective and show how the VFSM concept and its practical implementation StateWORKS realise the original, classic definition of a state machine. In addition, we show how StateWORKS realises a system of state machines. - Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, p. 46 –47
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040415
- Type: Article
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- Source: Computing and Control Engineering, Volume 15, Issue 4, page: 48 –48
- DOI: 10.1049/cce:20040416
- Type: Article
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Editor's letter
City council project makes Portsmouth "Europe's first mesh-enabled municipality"
My view... It's that deja vu feeling all over again [fieldbus standards]
FDT/DTM technology forum
Emerson collaborates with standards groups to expand DDL technology
FDT technology `picks up where DDL leaves off'
The PC for high-end surface inspection: practical or problematic?
The Shelton webSPECTOR
Intelligent vision systems for automotive applications
The TEDS smart sensor revolution. Bringing plug-and play to sensor measurements
Wireless volume turned up [wireless industrial communications]
Industrial interfaces can be wireless, and reliable
Designing buildings for the wireless age
Misunderstandings about state machines
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