Skip navigation
Electronics Industry Search
Advertisement
Email
Print
Reprints/License
RSS

Pocket DriveExplorer Software

Rockwell Automation

By Design News Staff -- Design News, March 19, 2006

A Pocket PC linked to a wireless interface module to provide Bluetooth® or WiFi® networking is replacing lugging the laptop for engineers and maintenance personnel troubleshooting and programming drives. Pocket DriveExplorer Software from Rockwell Automation allows a range of portable devices, such as the Dell Axim or HP iPAQ, to be used to program and maintain Allen-Bradley drives. Any Pocket PC with Windows® Mobile 2003 or Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition and 64 Mbytes of RAM can be used.
Users of Allen-Bradley PowerFlex AC drives and legacy SCANport-enabled Allen-Bradley drives can program, troubleshoot and monitor drive performance. The Pocket DriveExplorer Software provides the ability to display important device information and a List Editor for viewing/changing parameters which can also be grouped using File & Group folder views. Users can store and/or retrieve complete drive and peripheral configuration settings, download new firmware to the drive and attached peripherals and re-configure devices.
Throughout a facility, users utilize a Wireless Interface Module (WIM) linked to a Pocket PC to access drives through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi networks, saving the time and effort needed to carry and connect communication cables. Wireless connections improve safety by letting users access drives without opening panel doors, and built-in security features limit access to the drives and increase overall production security. Drives on Wi-Fi can be programmed to notify users when they are operating outside of set parameters via an alarm sent through the same wireless device that monitors and controls them.
Regardless which connection method is used, if the connected drive also resides on a network such as DeviceNet or ControlNet, the software can "route" through the drive and access other drives on the network. For more information, go to http://rbi.ims.ca/4917-643.
More from our Golden Mousetrap Awards
Best Product Finalists
Engineer of the Year
Readers Choice Awards
Building a Better Mousetrap
 
Golden Mouse Trap Award Categories: Best Product Winners
Electronics/Test:
Analog Control
National Semiconductor
Components, Hardware & Interconnect
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Digital Control/Embedded Computing
Co-Winners: Microchip Technology Inc.
Co-Winners: National Instruments
Power Management and Control
National Semiconductor
Sensors/Vision
Analog Devices
Test & Measurement

National Instruments
Materials/Fastening:
  Fastening, Joining & Assembly Components
PennEngineering
Motion Control/Automation:
Amplifiers & Drives/Feedback Devices
Allmotion Inc
Controllers
Texas Instruments
Motors
Fenner Drives
Automation
Rockwell Automation
Fluid Power
Swagelok Co.
Software/Hardware:
  Analysis & Calculation Software
Maplesoft
CAD/PLM Software
CoCreate Software Inc.
Hardware/Software
ioSafe Inc.
Rapid Prototyping Tools
Dimatix Inc.
Design & Development Software Tools
National Instruments
Digital Rapid Prototyping Tools
Analog Devices Inc
 
Advertisement

Sponsored Content

Technology Marketplace

Email
Print
Reprints/License
RSS
Find a supplier on oemsuppliersearch.com

Talkback
Advertisement
Reed Business Information Resource Center

Featured Company


Advertisement

Design News Partner Zones

Light Matters: The Unsung Heroes of Modern Health Care
First, let's define "no-compromise." In an ideal configuration, this lamp would use a high-brightness LED (HBLED) that is built into a small, integrated package and is able to produce a large quantity of focused light, operate with a high level of reliability and generate no audible noise. Is this difficult? Yes, but it is possible.
Read More


Design Engineers' Portal for Sensing and Machine Safety
Whatever industry you're in, or whatever product you manufacture, the right sensors to automate your plant, and to improve your overall efficiency, quality and safety are a must. You'll find Banner Engineering to be an amazing resource of products, training and people with expertise.


Test & Measurement World Machine Vision & Inspection Report
Topics include machine-vision software, Power over Camera Link, thermal imaging and frame grabbers. Read More

Design News Partner Zone Directory »

Please visit these other Reed Business sites