Top 5 Control Engineering articles, August 17-23: Common VFD myths, ladder logic, IIoT and machine sensors, more

Articles about five common VFD myths, ladder logic, an IIoT and machine sensor demonstration, IEEE 802.11ah and wireless devices, and the future of oil prices were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 17-23. Miss something? You can catch up here.

By Chris Vavra August 24, 2015

Control Engineering Top 5 most read articles online, for Aug. 17-23, covered five common VFD myths, ladder logic, an IIoT and machine sensor demonstration, IEEE 802.11ah and wireless devices, and the future of oil prices. Link to each article below. 

1. The truth about five common VFD myths

Knowing the truth about VFD operation can simplify the selection process for choose a variable frequency drive.

2. Ladder logic 304: Timer application

A sample timer application written in ladder logic provides examples of various programming tips, such as ensuring the programmer knows what the customer wants. See screen captures.

3. IIoT video: See on-machine sensor values in real time via Apple iPad

In an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) demonstration using a mountain bike tricked out with sensors and instrumentation, ThingWorx, a PTC business, revealed how an operator might see an industrial machine’s metrics in real time by looking through a mobile human-machine interface (HMI) or a head-mounted display.

4. IEEE 802.11ah, energy efficiency, extended battery life for wireless devices

he addition of power saving algorithms to the IEEE 802.11ah standard is designed to allow associated devices to run for weeks or even years without a battery replacement. The standard specifies traffic information map (TIM) and non-TIM as two modes of power saving.

5. Black October on the horizon

The price of oil may not have hit the nadir yet, supply is almost double that of demand, and the Iran deal may slash oil prices to new lows.

The list was developed using CFE Media’s web analytics for stories viewed on controleng.com, August 17-23, for articles published within the last two months.  

– Chris Vavra, production editor, CFE Media, cvavra@cfemedia.com.


Author Bio: Chris Vavra is web content manager for CFE Media and Technology.