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.
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