May 2019

n TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY n May 2019 www.drivesncontrols.com 24 AT THE RECENT Hannover Fair, Schneider Electric announced a cloud-linked controller and digital load management combination which, it claims, will give OEM machine-builders an “unprecedented” ability to integrate IIoT (the Industrial Internet of Things) rapidly into new and existing machines. When used together, the Modicon M262 logic and motion controller and the TeSys Island multifunctional load management system are said to slash commissioning and servicing times by about half. The TeSys Island is a digitised, IoT- connected load management system that saves on design, wiring, and commissioning time for applications with loads up to 80A. Object-orientated “avatars” act like digital twins on top of the physical objects. The system eliminates the need for auxiliary wiring and reduces the need for I/O modules, making it 40% faster to integrate, and cutting installation costs by 30% compared to traditional approaches, according to Schneider. The M262 controller has embedded cloud connections and encrypted communication protocols, and supports up to five separate Ethernet networks for fast logic and motion performance in demanding applications. The controller is said to deliver 30% faster motion and four times faster CPU execution than rival systems. Schneider’s open, IoT-enabled EcoStruxure platform is said to allow the M262 and TeSys Island combination to be integrated up to 40% faster into machine-to-machine, machine-to-plant, and machine-to-cloud environments, using open standards, with end-to-end cybersecurity that offers encrypted communication and network segmentation. The combination eliminates the need for additional hardware for cloud connections, with testing and commissioning capabilities to facilitate upgrades of existing equipment. Schneider is backing the hardware with software tools – the EcoStruxure Machine Expert configuration and commissioning software, and the EcoStruxure Motor Configurator tool. These tools allow multiple teams to program and control designs simultaneously, reducing time-to-market. The EcoStruxure Machine Advisor tool gives engineering and maintenance teams remote access to information on any machine at any time. This allows OEMs to offer new cloud-supported services, such as preventive maintenance. The load management system provides preventive maintenance data and pre-alarms which avoid machine stoppages if unusual electrical load behaviours are detected. This can halve the time needed time for corrective actions. The Modicon M262 controller is said to allow quick plug-and-work embedded system access for easy network configuration and replacing devices without needing any installation. “Machine-builders and OEMs have traditionally looked for solutions which could lower their costs and improve machine performance,” says Schneider Electric Industry executive vice-president, Peter Herweck. “This is still true, but now they also need to digitise to stay competitive. With EcoStruxure Machine Expert, Modicon M262 Logic & Motion controller, and TeSys Island digital load management system, OEMs have a future- proof solution that brings digitisation to reduce configuration time, reduces wiring and I/Os, and increases processing speed. This solution will enable OEMs to quickly see the advantages of the IIoT.” www.schneider-electric.co.uk p Siemens has formed a partnershipwith the analytics specialist SAS to help companies create new IoT edge and cloud-enabled systems using SAS and open-source streaming analytics via Siemens’MindSphere cloud platform. Users will gain access to advanced and predictive analytics which can accelerate their adoption of machine learning and artificial intelligence in IoT environments. https://new.siemens.com/uk/en www.sas.com p IEEE has issued three amendments to its IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard, one of which (802.3bt-2018) amends physical layer and management parameters for Power-over- Ethernet over four-pair wires. Another (802.3cd- 2018) amends media access control parameters for 50Gb/s, and physical layers and management parameters for 50, 100 and 200 Gb/s operation. www.ieee.org p Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Oki Electric , NS Solutions and Mitsubishi Electric have established a Consortium for Human-Centric Manufacturing Innovation (HCMI Consortium) to research, develop, verify and evaluate new systems for human-centric manufacturing. The organisation will support the introduction of related technologies and personnel, and organise groups to research, study and review issues related to human- centric manufacturing p Hengstler , the Germanmanufacturer of encoders for motion feedback, has announced that the SCS open link motor feedback interface has been certified by TÜV Rheinland for use in applications up to SIL 3. The single- cable systemmeets all functional safety requirements to IEC 61508-2: 2010 and IEC 61784-3: 2017. SCS open link is an interface for communicating between drives andmotors using one cable with two or four wires, and high-performance software with a high safety level. It can also be used to carry IoT sensor data securely in Industry 4.0 applications. www.hengstler.de p Eaton has announced that its eMobility business has been chosen by Nidec-PSA Emotors , a joint venture between Nidec Leroy-Somer and Groupe PSA , to supply high-performance traction inverters for a battery-electric vehicles. It will provide its power-dense inverters to Emotors, which will integrate themwith motors and sell them to car-makers for assembly into electric vehicles. eMobility has developed inverters with a power density of 35 kW/litre and operating efficiencies of 98%, saving space, while helping to improve ranges and safety. p ODVA has released enhancements to its EtherNet/IP specification, including key updates to its CIP Security technology.The new edition of the CIP Security specification increases efficiency with timeout responses, enhances protection by allowing for amandatory CIP Security connection for changes, and expands behaviours for certificate verification.The ultimate aimof CIP Security is to enable EtherNet/IP devices, and other devices using CIP, to become autonomous, taking responsibility for their own security and securing themselves against attack. www.odva.org Controller and load management combo slashes OEM costs Schneider says that its new controller and load management system, combined with software tools, will save time and money for OEM machine-builders