Industrial PC Applications in Industrial Automation

Industrial PC Applications in Industrial Automation

Industrial PC Applications in Industrial Automation

Industrial automation can be broadly defined as the use of technology and control systems (industrial PC, PLC, PAC, etc.) to automate industrial processes to improve quality and performance without the need for significant human intervention. Control systems are used to dictate the automatic operation of embedded technology and other equipment. In large automobile factories, for example, automated robotic arms quickly perform labor-intensive, minor, or repetitive manufacturing tasks along a production line to achieve a higher degree of precision than human manual labor could. produce on the same time scale.

So what does this automation control? 

PC industrial vs PLC / PAC

Industrial PC due to their environmental and operational benefits, industrial PCs now come in all shapes and sizes. From a robust monobloc computer to a complete fanless industrial PC with powerful Intel CPU, HD graphics, and I / O.Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and programmable automation controllers (PACs). PLCs are essentially a type of microcontroller used to control machines. They consist of memory, a processor, and input/output (i / o) functions and are capable of carrying out pre-programmed functions such as math, counting, communication, sensor management, and trigger actuators. Industrial PC  they can be found deployed in a multitude of operational scenarios, including manufacturing plants in factories, integrated into security and surveillance architecture and other technological configurations involved in the automation of processes and machines. Compared to commercial-grade general-purpose computers, Industrial PC's ability to withstand the often harsh environment found in industrial environments and the like makes them a popular solution for manufacturing, energy, transportation, agriculture, and other industries with similar environmental problems. Using real-time cores enhances older automation models by allowing automation to be separated from the operating system (OS) environment. Industrial PC this in turn allows it to take precedence over the operating system for priorities such as the input/output interface.

Applications of industrial PCs in industrial automation

Industrial PCs have uses and applications that go far beyond industrial automation; however, for this article, we will limit ourselves to applications that are within the confines of industrial automation.

Manufacture:

Rugged industrial PCs offer the best hardware platform for large-scale manufacturing that exceeds the work constraints of the average human workforce. Having had a shaky start in their early days, industrial PC systems are now widely used by many manufacturers, not only for machine vision and robotic guidance but also for the ability to collect valuable data from machinery and equipment for use. Preventive Maintenance.

Inspection and quality control of containers:

Another important application in manufacturing is, of course, vision-controlled quality assurance, which works much faster and with greater precision than is possible with humans. Using machine vision systems and packaging inspection systems from manufacturers as well as food packaging plants automate quality assurance of your products at high speed. Industrial PC  its commercialization has become a reality thanks to the powerful multi-core CPUs that can handle the calculation of an extra Z dimension at a super-fast speed, providing deeper multidimensional. This has taken quality control to a higher level where the decision to approve or reject the system can depend on many more parameters such as proportion, shape, area, size, etc.

Asset tracking:

Manufacturing is not the only industry that has become heavily reliant on industrial PCs. This can be done both on-site and remotely and provides system operators with a way to track assets or processes in a much more accurate and efficient way

Simulation and Control:

This allows a better understanding to analyze risks, predict other possibilities, and test systems within any framework. The possibility of carrying out this type of testing and analysis allows the existing infrastructure to be further improved and developed based on information obtained from simulations and predictions. With much buzz surrounding artificial intelligence and machine learning, advancements shortly could see these three technologies intertwined to create even more advanced simulations.

Remote data collection:

In the age of automation and the Internet of Things, data is one of the most valuable commodities out there. The ability of remote IO sensors to send and receive data on the use of remote machinery, tools, hardware, and other connected devices enables the operators who deploy them to receive actionable data on operational processes, equipment fatigue, and overall performance. This data allows control systems to know when to regulate equipment power, activate actuators, adjust the temperature or pressure controls, and other operating functions extremely precisely.

IoT and PC based automation

From PLCs to PACs and now industrial PCs, what the future holds can only be guessed. However, if the costs of computing and communication technologies continue to fall at the same rate as innovations, we are certainly examining the full potential of IoT delivered on time, which translates into unprecedented efficiency. production precedents and higher consumer satisfaction. The PC is at the heart of the open standards-based Internet of the revolution of things, especially in the industrial Internet of things, which will become the brain that will control the infrastructures on which communities and economies will depend on their daily life. IoT communication gateways require not only superior robustness in their construction and components but also robustness. cybersecurity built into the software that manages communication between things.

Goals of industrial automation: present and future

The next few years will be key to innovation and the development and generalization of industrial robotics automation, but we cannot ignore the fear that still exists about the balance between automation and the future of employment. So what can you expect from this expansion of automation processes? Currently implementing this type of process in companies has very clear objectives: Produce more homogeneously and with fewer errors. Do more in less time. Cost reduction: helps cut costs in materials or labor. Job satisfaction: reduces stress and accidents among the workforce, and also frees workers from repetitive, heavy, or even dangerous tasks. In this way, staff can focus on activities that require higher qualifications. All of this increases productivity achieves greater business profitability and increases ROI. But we must be aware that we are in a world in constant evolution, so the objectives also evolve and adapt to new trends. These are some of the technological innovations that may mark industrial automation processes in the coming years: Blockchain: this technology will accelerate automation in the control of traceability and the production chain and coordination between IoT devices through Smart contracts. Robotics: either with the use of collaborative robots or exoskeletons, industrial robotics will be one of the great protagonists of automation in the coming years. Time Sensitive Networking: eliminates barriers in the IoT connection and guarantees security in information exchanges. Machine Learning: thanks to big data and the volume of data collected, machines will be able to identify patterns, draw their own conclusions and act accordingly.

Towards Industry 5.0

Industrial automation has always been a field of innovation for companies. Technologies such as robotics, the cloud, Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, or IoT are increasingly used, and this is driving industrial applications of automation. New tools connected to smart technologies will allow these processes to expand and reach new levels of production. With the convergence of all these innovations, the foundations for the next leap into the fifth industrial revolution are being built. To maintain and increase their competitiveness, companies will have to accelerate the implementation of new technologies in the future, something essential to stay ahead. So the next step in automation is updating all technological advances so that they can be used as drivers of innovation. To grow and generate more profits, companies are always looking for ways to create tools that improve and boost the production of their products. In this sense, industrial automation stands as a key process to create technological systems that can produce more in less time, eliminate mechanical or repetitive tasks, reduce workloads and reduce the margin of error in production. In short, it is possible to optimize the production areas of any company or industry, and new opportunities will also be generated.