Intelligent Connectivity for Electric Automation

Connectivity is at the core of modern automation in manufacturing and beyond. System links between devices, controls, machines, and the cloud facilitate the use of data so important to IIoT (Industrie 4.0) functionalities. Here, leading trends include the rise of edge computing (including the use of industrial gateways), services that support cloud connectivity, Ethernet-based networks, wireless communications for industrial components, various forms of standardized protocols, open-source programming code, and unifying software environments to facilitate interoperability.


When conjuring such systems, most engineers are likely to picture the traditional automation-communications pyramid. Such architectures include data exchanges between field-level sensors and higher implementation layers … as well as some communications between controls … finally rising to the pinnacle of the enterprise level. But as we illustrate in this Classroom, several technologies have facilitated distributed and intelligent systems with flatter machinery communication structures.

Lisa Eitel

Senior Editor, Design World

Intelligent Connectivity for Electric Automation Classroom Sponsored by:

Basics of Industrial Connectivity

Connectivity and IoT in motion

Fast track Smart Factory with Time Sensitive Network (TSN)

Trends in Ethernet, PoE, IO-Link, HIPERFACE, and single-cable solutions

Edge computing and gateways proliferate for industrial machinery

Connectivity is at the core of modern automation in manufacturing and beyond. System links between devices, controls, machines, and the cloud facilitate the use of data so important to IIoT (Industrie 4.0) functionalities.

The time sensitive networking (TSN) protocol is an addition to the IEEE Ethernet related standards and is starting to become popular for industrial networks. 

Industrial Ethernet-based protocols continue to overtake traditional fieldbuses for the messaging of data in automated installations

Actuators, sensors, and other edge devices are fundamental to edge computing. 

Single common conformance test plan to be available for the IEC/IEEE 60802 TSN profile for industrial automation

What are latency and jitter and why are they important to industrial networks?

Applications that use closed-loop control often require communication networks that provide deterministic, real-time control of data transmission. 

The Avnu Alliance, CC-Link Partner Association, ODVA, OPC Foundation, and PROFIBUS & PROFINET International jointly announce that they are collaborating to develop a single conformance test plan for the IEEE/IEC 60802 Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) profile for Industrial Automation.

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MELSERVO-J5 Servo Motors

MOTION CONTROL TIPS

What is field weakening and how does it affect servo motor performance?

Motion system design: How to manage inertia mismatch

What’s the difference between torque mode and velocity mode in servo control?

What does bandwidth refer to in the context of servo systems?

Most people are familiar with bandwidth as it relates to networking and WiFi service — for example, the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands on which WiFi signals are transmitted. But bandwidth also plays an important role in servo control and tuning.

Although servo systems can very precisely control motor speed, position, and torque, in some applications, the motor may not be able to reach the commanded velocity due to limits in the available bus (supply) voltage from the drive.

Servo systems are used when the application calls for precise control of position, velocity, or torque — or a combination of the three. Depending on the parameter being controlled, the servo system can be operated in torque mode.

One of the most important parameters when sizing a motion system is the inertia of the load being moved. Regardless of the type of motor being used — AC induction, stepper, brushless DC, or AC servo.

What are digital twins and how are they used in industrial manufacturing?

What are biquad and other filter types for servo tuning?

Manufacturing even the simplest product requires expertise in materials, equipment, operations, and process flow. 

One way to improve servo system performance is to increase the gains in the control loop, allowing the system to respond faster to commands and to settle more quickly, with less oscillation.

Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. is part of a $40 billion global company serving a wide variety of industrial markets with automation products including PLCs, servo amplifiers and motors, industrial robots, and much more. Mitsubishi Electric servo systems have become one of the most globally respected names in factory automation: the broad range of servo offerings include standard safety features, predictive maintenance capabilities, auto-tuning, multi-axis amplifiers, linear and direct drive motors, and world class performance for industrial automation applications.

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