Machine and Embedded Control Award Winners

By Control Engineering Staff February 1, 2009

Discrete Sensors
R-Gage QT50R Sensor

Banner Engineering

The QT50R Sensor employs radar technology to detect close and long-range presence of moving or stationary objects. The technology was originally designed to track freight traffic within the Betuwe Route—an underground tunnel connecting Holland and Germany—where harsh conditions made other sensing technologies ineffective. The QT50R solves a broad range of challenging indoor or outdoor applications, reliably detecting moving or stationary targets, such as cars, trains, trucks and cargo. Features include: sensing range of up to 15 m, compact, rugged IP67 housing for harsh environments, and LED indicators for status monitoring.

www.bannerengineering.com


HONORABLE MENTION

OG-Cube – ifm efector inc.

Photoelectric sensor provides position detection in industrial applications: high optical performance in a compact metal housing with robust metal housing for harsh conditions.

www.ifmefector.com

Machine Vision

In-Sight Micro

Cognex

The In-Sight Micro is a full vision system with the size of a remote-head camera (30 x 30 x 60 mm), ideal for mounting in very tight spaces on robots, production lines and machinery. Together with the new EasyBuilder configuration software and smart VisionView operator interface display, In-Sight Micro has transformed machine vision into a more affordable and accessible solution. EasyBuilder eliminates the need for programming, yet provides flexibility to customize complex applications when needed. The In-Sight Micro includes the proven Cognex vision tool library to handle the broadest range of vision applications for the widest array of industries.

www.cognex.com

HONORABLE MENTION

NI Smart Camera Family- National Instruments

New NI Smart Cameras deliver faster processing and higher resolution to engineers requiring an easy-to-use, real-time machine vision solution.

www.ni.com

PLCs/PACs


TIE

Click PLC

AutomationDirect


Starting at $69, Click PLC is an easy-to-use controller with 8 digital inputs, 6 digital outputs and two communication ports. The expandable micro brick PLC has 11 option modules allowing up to 142 I/O points. It includes free programming software.

www.automationdirect.com

CX1030 Embedded PC

Beckhoff Automation

To provide automation and control applications with the most powerful PC-based controllers possible, Beckhoff Automation announced its new CX1030 Embedded PC. The DIN rail mounted computer is equipped with a 1.8 GHz Intel Pentium M processor and is the most powerful device in the Beckhoff Embedded PC family.

www.beckhoffautomation.com

HONORABLE MENTION

Simantic ET 200S IM151-8 PN/DP – Siemens Energy and Automation

Distributed controller has Profinet communication interface built in: I/O module CPU is similar in power and performance to Siemens’ S7-300 line of controllers.

www.sea.siemens.com

Power


E-Power

Eurotherm

Eurotherm’s E-Power controller includes the innovative predictive load management function, which allows reductions in energy cost and improved quality of main
electrical supply. SCR controllers firing in phase angle degrade the power factor while increasing detrimental harmonics and electrical noise. E-Power SCRs with the PLM function allow advanced synchronization, at high speed, of up to 64 heating zones firing in zero-cross mode resulting in substantial cost savings. Additional benefits are no harmonic generation, lower line currents, which decrease the electrical losses, and constant voltage level, which results in more effective motor performance without drawbacks, such as flicker and peaks of power.

www.eurotherm.com

HONORABLE MENTION (TIE)

CR6300 series transducers- CR Magnetics

Save energy: sense the phase angle difference between ac current and voltage.

www.crmagnetics.com

Sitop power supply- Siemens Energy and Automation

Modular 3-phase 24 V dc / 20 A switched mode power supply.

www.sea.siemens.com

Safety

SafetyEye


Pilz Gmbh

The Pilz SafetyEye is a camera-based 3D monitoring system that safeguards people working in or around hazardous operations. SafetyEye uses three dynamic digital cameras positioned above the work area to provide continuous monitoring. A control unit receives the images via fiber optics, analyzes the data and creates a virtual 3D image of the work area. Then, using configuration software, three-dimensional zones are established to identify safe and hazardous areas. Once detected, SafetyEye controls or eliminates the hazard, protecting the worker from injury and the process from interruption. SafetyEye can adapt motion to reduce a hazard, rather than completely shut down a machine. In addition, SafetyEye has the option of defining virtual zones for the actuation of any process.

www.pilz.com

HONORABLE MENTION

Simatic Safety Matrix V6.1 – Siemens Energy and Automation

Simatic Safety Matrix is the comprehensive tool for the safety lifecycle engineering and management of the failsafe automation systems S7 F/FH Systems. It provides support during all phases of the safety lifecycle.

www.sea.siemens.com