Setting up an industrial networked system involves many factors. Here are some important points to consider before you purchase any equipment or software. Adding a wireless interface to wired controllers and I/O offers new options for segmenting networks. Critical I/O and controller traffic could use the wired network interface while less critical tasks could be…
Student Teams Develop Green Cars of the Future
EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge, a three-year collegiate advanced vehicle technology engineering competition established by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and General Motors (GM), is being managed by Argonne National Laboratory. Students design and build advanced propulsion systems that are based on vehicle categories from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) zero emissions vehicle (ZEV)…
Control System Touts Integrated Wireless Access
New Bedford Panoramex (NBP) typically focused its integrated wireless access system (IWAS) products for the aviation, petroleum, utilities, and power industries. Its newest system targets air traffic control systems, lighting systems, navigation and landing aids, and other systems used in the aerospace and aviation industries. The IWAS is a subsystem of NBP’s integrated control and…
Vision Technology Automates Quality Control
Scintilla AG cranks out 60,000 power hacksaw blades every day. The blades vary in terms of shape, type of base paint, and imprint. Up to 700 different types of blades can be produced at the plant. That type of volume requires the latest production equipment including vision and inspection software from Cognex. The products help…
Smart Grid Roadmaps will Harmonize Consumer Links to Electricity Producers
The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 assigned the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) primary responsibility to coordinate the development of a framework that includes protocols and model standards for information management to achieve interoperability of smart grid devices and systems. The effort is part of a three-phase NIST Smart Grid…
Splash into Surfing Miles Away from the Ocean
Breakthrough hydraulics technology from American Wave Machines (AWM) replicates ocean surfing. The wave surge machine, called Surfstream, offers real surfing and wave riding capabilities for water parks, resorts, hotels, and sports exhibitions. Learn to surf and ride the waves in a Surfstream designed by American Wave Machines. Since each free-standing design is custom, the company…
Delicate Nitrogen Cycle Affects Eco-Systems and Food Sources
Engineers can help restore balance to the nitrogen cycle with better fertilization technologies and by capturing and recycling waste. Human induced changes in the global nitrogen cycle pose tricky engineering challenges. Nitrogen is an important component of amino acids and nucleotides and is needed by all living things. Fortunately, the planet
The Solar Energy Dilemma
To make solar energy economically competitive, ways must be found to improve the efficiency of the cells and lower their manufacturing costs. Solar electricity generation is a growing, multi-billion dollar industry. Yet, the solar share of the total energy market is less than one percent of total energy consumption. Coal, natural gas, and oil cannot…
University Researchers Investigate Coal Burning Efficiency
Coal consumption is growing, despite the hype surrounding all the new alternative energy sources being developed. According to the Energy Information Administration, coal use was up in the first eight months of 2008. So, until we find the magic bullet, we have to deal with coal and all its hazards, including mercury emissions and the…
Self-Tapping Screws are Safe, Secure and Economical
Self-tapping screws are the most common type of mechanical fasteners for assembling all sorts of products. They cut or form a thread as they are inserted, which eliminates the need for molding an internal thread or a separate tapping operation. Self-tapping screws are a particularly economical means for joining plastics and dissimilar materials, and the…
Do Voluntary Environmental Controls Work in the US?
European manufacturers, once again, offer U.S. companies a worthwhile standard: This time it is VECAP, voluntary procedures to help us become better environmental stewards. As if the competitiveness in the global marketplace isn’t fierce enough, U.S. companies face increasingly more compliance issues before they manufacture and ship new products. However, adhering to regulations isn’t necessarily…
Advanced Materials Host New Products with Unusual Properties
A range of industries such as manufacturing, construction, consumer goods, and electronics now use advanced materials and processes more than ever before to remain competitive. The most critical factors they need to address are improved product quality and precision as well as methods that make plastic materials easier and faster to mold or form. In…