Control Considerations in Mechatronics

PAC hardware can be used in multiple domains, including logic, motion, drives, and process control. And the software programs all control and monitoring tasks of multiple domains. This feature enables the programs to “flow” as the requirements of the application dictate.

Critical to any mechatronics system is the control. One of the newest controllers is the programmable automation controller. Here are tips on selecting one for your specific application.

By Kelly Downey,
Electrical Engineer
Opto 22

Industrial applications continue to increase in complexity, requiring controls that can integrate multiple systems that incorporate discrete, motion control, and process tasks and that can gather, process, and transmit real time data to company databases. Programmable automation controllers (PACs) can be one choice for managing this complexity because they combine the capabilities of several traditional control and monitoring systems. Typically, they have features found in programmable logic controllers (PLCs), distributed control systems (DCSs),remote terminal units (RTUs), and personal computers (PCs).
Even so, control manufacturers offer PACs with varying capabilities. Thus, there are several considerations to keep in mind with your selection. Read more

Got Control? Part 2

So when is a PC (personal computer) a PAC (programmable automation controller) or a PLC (programmable logic controller)? They are all the same. They all have microprocessors. They are all programmable. They are all available with hardware that is rated for industrial environments, shock, vibration, temperature extremes and various other requirements. They are all connected to real world devices such as sensors, switches, etc. They all execute control based on a programmed binary model of a real world manufacturing process.

They have differing abilities in terms of data storage and throughput. In previous generations of PLC and CNC, the memory for those systems was very expensive and early memories were hand wound wire and discrete magnet memory. With the advent of mass manufactured memory for the PC, the industrial platforms have had to engineer hardware with different components to take advantage of competitive costs. A hard disk drive module was available for some PLC systems where extensive process information was needed.

In today’s market one vendor offers an industrial computer platform that replaces the PLC, the HMI (human to machine interface) and uses a touch screen interface, using the PC platform to reduce control system costs in many applications by doing several functions with the same hardware. Sounds like a Tablet PC engineered for the plant floor. Nothing unreasonable about that. Read more