Our next-generation visualization product is aimed at addressing each of these key points. To achieve an intuitive, flexible user interface, we're modeling these products after commercially available mobile devices such as tablets. Everyone can operate these devices and they appeal to a new generation of workers. The days of large, clunky touchscreens is gone and we are now seeing faster navigation and keyboard-less operation.
The survey also queried respondents on how valuable would it be if the control system would require no programming skills to change parameters and troubleshoot the machinery, providing all access to the control system from the operator interface. Almost two thirds responded that this functionality would be extremely valuable (41.3 percent) or highly valuable (33.5 percent).
Troubleshooting the machine from the HMI is an interesting development because diagnostics are often not implemented on many machines. Modern machines are more complex than in the past, with electronics used for more functions that used to be done mechanically. There is the complexity of more axes, programmable safety systems, but also pressure on the machine builders to provide additional diagnostics. The challenge is to make it simple to automatically generate control system diagnostic screens to be used either offline using a Web browser or embedded on the HMI.
John Kowal, market development manager for B&R Industrial Automationm, told Design News:
One key trend is the idea of convergence and how we are seeing control platforms are adding functions that goes beyond traditional control. Visualization and troubleshooting are real needs in the marketplace, and there is a need for HMIs to be more intuitive and interactive than in the past.
Kowal predicts we are going to see companies investing more in animations, videos, tying effective work instructions into fault codes, and using technology to overcome language and education barriers. All of this confirms the need to simplify machine operations and diagnostics, features machine builders will implement as long as it is easy to do. Ready-made diagnostics need to be available out-of-the-box to provide a solution for this increased need for visualization and diagnostics.
Another survey question probed interest in a universal, standards-based specification to reduce the proliferation and complexity of electrical specifications for machine control being developed by the OMAC Packaging Workgroup. More than half of the respondents said they would be likely to embrace such a standard.
Worked for a company building some specialized welding equiptment. Went from a keyboard type parameter entry to a HMI. At first it was thought that the operators would have a problem, but the operators all loved it. Advantage was the amount of data displayed and the ease of moving from parameter set to paramenter set.
The Touch Panel HMI's are very durable and hold up well in less than ideal environments. And the more expensive units are not necesarily the better ones. We used 2 different suppliers and the more expensive PLCs/HMIs did not give better performance.
It did require some re-design of the operator controls - We were able to replace potentiometers with a small CTS encoder through standard I/O (cut costs because we didn't need the analog inputs) and allowed us to save all weld parameters, The operator could turn an encoder or key in a number to change a setting.
Wish the touch panel were more available for PC's as it makes a really nice way to communicate with the machine.
The biggest problem with an HMI is the tendancy to put too much info and too much clutter on the display. A too busy screen is harder to use than a simpler, locgically arranged display. Too often the display has little relationship to what the process is, it was made to look pretty, not function pretty.
Good point, Scott. I've heart anecdotal information about young engineers becoming more attracted to automation and control because of video-game-like presentations that make the idea of hanging out in a plant more attractive.
Interesting graph on the reasons why designers would want multi-touch. One of the big ones being for people who have grown up with those technologies. The thing is, I was doing HMI design with resistive touch prior to Apple's development. It was the old-timers that were tryint to slide switches or push two buttons at the same time (with, of course, some real interesting results).
Interesting conversational thread. It's hard to image a generation of machine operators flocking to equipment because they have a cool HMI. People are very adaptable and graphic presentations have a way of presenting very data rich information in way that is easy assimilated. A good (and efficient) thing for all generations.
I agree with you, TJ. Having spent decades working for magazines, I'm well aware of the importantce of data presented visually. Chuck's pie chart itself is a good example.
Rob, I feel very strongly that this is so. I also think there is almost no adjustment time required.
A display with a bunch of numbers, all the same size, all indicating some feature of a machine or process is difficult to assimilate, even if you use it every single day.
A display that uses bar graphs, dial-type gauge indicators, can be so much more rapidly assimilated.
The gauges and bar graphs usually incorporate normal operating range indicators, so one can see in an instant that what is being indicated is "in the green".
Such graphical displays usually also incorporate the numeric value into the graphic which is used when the exact value is needed.
Rob, Charles, I disagree that the "generational" aspect has to do with people.
This article used pie charts and bar graphs to relate information to us. Mr. Fresher also put those percentages into text form in his paragraphs. Which method for conveying information was more useful, more intuitive, more quickly absorbed? We're inherently visual animals, and can take in a situation with a single glance at an overall image. Text is serial, one piece of information at a time.
It's not because younger engineers necessarily expect such interfaces, but the fact that they are simply more useful, more efficient.
If we placed two identical manufacturing machines side by side, with only the HMI being different (one with a text-only interface, one with a rich graphical interface), which operator and machine would be more productive? Want to place a bet? The text-based interface will take up more of an operator's time.
Yes, 32.3% is a big piece of the pie, and it's directly called out as a generational issue. You could also make a case that the other pieces of the pie -- ability to zoom, keyboardless, more intuitive -- are at least partially age-related issues, even though they're not called out as such.
Yes, there is a clear generational shift here. I was surprised by the size of the pie that related to age when it came to HMI. That may be a function of a growing number of young engineers entering the workforce.
For 3D printing to make the jump from rapid prototyping to manufacturing, engineers will need to find easier ways to move products from their CAD screens to their printers.
Gigabit and PoE are two networking technologies moving ahead in tandem as industrial users power remote Ethernet devices such as IP security cameras at 1,000 Mbps over existing CAT5 cable.
New versions of BASF's Ecovio line are both compostable and designed for either injection molding or thermoforming. These combinations are becoming more common for the single-use bioplastics used in food service and food packaging applications, but are still not widely available.
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For industrial control applications, or even a simple assembly line, that machine can go almost 24/7 without a break. But what happens when the task is a little more complex? That’s where the “smart” machine would come in. The smart machine is one that has some simple (or complex in some cases) processing capability to be able to adapt to changing conditions. Such machines are suited for a host of applications, including automotive, aerospace, defense, medical, computers and electronics, telecommunications, consumer goods, and so on. This radio show will show what’s possible with smart machines, and what tradeoffs need to be made to implement such a solution.
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