Rockwell Automation has introduced its new Allen‑Bradley MobileView tethered operator interface. The mobile terminal gives plant and industrial personnel the freedom to take a machine’s human-machine interface (HMI) with them to make real-time adjustments to out-of-view applications.

The MobileView tethered operator interface is ideal for maintenance tasks, machine setup or calibration activities, and other HMI applications that require the operator to see the machine. The inclusion of a hardwired e-stop button and three-position enabling switch also supports applications that require local safety functionality.

“Between making an adjustment on the terminal and viewing the results on the machine, fixed operator terminals can require a lot of back and forth for personnel, for certain applications,” said Matt Hansen, senior product manager at Rockwell Automation. “The MobileView tethered operator interface puts the terminal in the operator’s hands to increase productivity and safety. Tasks are made more efficient and machines are set up faster.”

The MobileView tethered operator interface complements the Allen-Bradley PanelView graphic terminals, giving manufacturers and industrial operators a range of fixed and mobile terminals for different applications. It also uses the FactoryTalk View Machine Edition (ME) HMI software from Rockwell Automation, allowing users to develop and re-use their software applications across the MobileView and PanelView platforms.

Three cable-length options, ranging from 16.4 feet to 49.2 feet, offer flexibility for different machines and production lines. The MobileView tethered operator interface also uses a 10-inch display with resistive touch screen, 2 GB internal SD card for application storage, and USB 2.0 port for high-speed data transfer. Software assignable functions are available as an option with either a hardwired momentary illuminated pushbutton or three-position key switch.

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Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces the May 29 release of FAST/TOOLS® R10.02, the latest version of a web-based real-time operations management and visualization software package that brings revolutionary changes to real-time process information intelligence. This release is designed to significantly reduce engineering of large geographically dispersed systems, which requires both a different engineering approach and central managed deployment. The introduction of a master enterprise engineering database establishes a single engineering environment containing all common enterprise definitions and deployment data. This is easier to manage, less restrictive, and less complex than distributed databases.

Yokogawa has identified a rising need for the integration of the various disciplines and functions required for the delivery of human-centric information solutions utilizing new technologies such as industrial cloud computing, industrial SaaS, and the Industrial Internet of Things. In essence, the aim is to connect sensors, devices, and plant facilities to facilitate the remote access of data and enable supervisory control from just about anywhere. The FAST/TOOLS enterprise automation platform addresses these needs by offering comprehensive solutions for the deployment, operation, and monitoring of control system environments. This will help companies make faster decisions, reduce total cost of ownership (TCO), and achieve operational excellence.

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Red Lion Controls, the global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation and networking, today announced that it has expanded its Graphite™ Human Machine Interface (HMI) operator panels with two new communication modules, offering support for some of today’s most popular industrial protocols. Designed for use with the Graphite HMI platform, the PROFIBUS® (GMPBDP) and DeviceNet™ (GMDN) plug-in modules provide the connectivity customers need to add powerful monitoring and control functionality to their existing operations.

Red Lion’s new plug-and-play modules support the rising demand for device interoperability, allowing customers to leverage Red Lion’s rugged Graphite HMIs – with built-in protocol converter and 300+ communications drivers – to support virtually any automation equipment. The GMPBDP module adds PROFIBUS DP slave support while the GMDN module allows the HMI to perform as a DeviceNet Group 2 server.

“With the addition of new communication modules, our powerful HMI products continue to provide even more ways for our customers to easily connect, monitor and control processes across a broad range of industries,” explained Jeff Thornton, director of product management at Red Lion Controls. “The PROFIBUS and DeviceNet modules give customers more choices as they seek integrated communication solutions to address varying requirements in industrial and remote environments.”

Rockwell Software Pavilion8 Model Predictive Control (MPC) software now delivers a more user-friendly configuration environment, step-by-step prompts, warning diagnostics and flexible work flows to simplify building, maintaining and adjusting highly complex process models.

“Pavilion8 software has long been known as being among the most powerful software for solving highly challenging control problems, and it is now also among the easiest to use,” said Michael Tay, Pavilion product manager for Rockwell Automation. “The solution builder tools within the software now offer MPC configuration in a modern Windows environment, giving users a more familiar and streamlined experience. For example, users can now execute right-click mouse operations and complete copy-and-paste-type actions to develop applications in the software, helping them deploy their solutions faster and reduce training and adoption times.”

Pavilion8 MPC v5.0 software remains control system independent, but smoothly integrates with the PlantPAx process automation system from Rockwell Automation and includes four key enhancements.

Windows-based configuration and support – An improved overall user experience for expert and inexperienced users alike begins with the updated, Windows-based solution builder tools, which improve work flow by enabling users to create a customized working environment and providing access to online help. For example, problems that arise during configuration will now prompt helpful, context-sensitive warning and error messages. Users can simply click on these messages to receive detailed model-creation steps that will guide them toward a resolution. Users can also more easily modify past work to simplify model maintenance and re-use.

Multivariable run-time controller – Users will also discover new time-saving features in version 5.0. The robust run-time controller has been updated to allow users to add new predictive disturbance measures in half the time as the previous version, and easily compare differences in MPC application versions. Users now can easily sort, re-name, add, delete, compare and copy MPC variables and software supporting a flexible work flow, which can help reduce troubleshooting time. Output variables, such as powder moisture from an industrial dryer or reactor pressure in a vessel, can also be used as inputs to a nonlinear control model to help simplify deployment. Multiple developments that enhance integrating control models simplify and improve run-time performance.

Continuous controller monitoring – Users can now configure their process models with specific metrics for production, quality, energy usage and other factors. They can also continuously measure their processes according to these metrics and use historical records to track ongoing benefits. The software incorporates new data efficiencies to provide a faster and more responsive trend environment, particularly for those supporting larger and more demanding systems.

Supports modern browsers and operating systems – To make the Pavilion8 experience more consistent with other software environments and improve overall ease of use, Rockwell Automation re-designed the software’s user interface to align with current technology standards. This includes support for newer browsers like Internet Explorer 11 and operating systems, such as Windows 2012.

Pavilion8 software is the leading Rockwell Automation platform for MPC and real-time environmental management. It is also the first platform to combine empirical and first principle models into a single composite model. With proven return on investment when applied to a wide range of industries, continuous processes and equipment, Pavilion8 software uses an unrestrictive and robust configuration approach. This allows it to adapt to changing business needs and to flexibly meet simple linear to the most challenging nonlinear processes.