Top 10 Control Engineering articles, March 12 to April 11: PLC scanning, Engineers’ Choice, data acquisition and analysis, more

Articles about PLC scanning, the 2016 Engineers' Choice Awards winners, data acquisition and analysis, cyber security protection, and sensor actuation charts were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 12 to April 11. Miss something? You can catch up here. Also see what ranked 6-10.

By Chris Vavra April 12, 2016

The top 5 most read articles online, from Mar. 12 to Apr. 11 for Control Engineering covered PLC scanning, the 2016 Engineers’ Choice Awards winners, data acquisition and analysis, cyber security protection, and sensor actuation charts. Link to each article below. Also see what ranked 6-10 over the last month. 

1. Ladder logic 105: PLC scanning

Understanding how scanning works in a programmable logic controller (PLC) is something that needs to be addressed for a user regardless of the program being used.

2. 2016 Engineers’ Choice Awards winners

Best automation, control, and instrumentation products in 27 categories chosen by Control Engineering’s print and digital audience.

3. Ladder logic 401: Data acquisition and analysis

A programmable logic controller (PLC) is designed to not only provide information on signal levels, but it can also capture data and it can be analyzed, but there are a number of challenges the user faces from a software and logistical standpoint.

4. Cyber security protection enters a new era

Watch for a backdoor cyber security assault. End users, integrators, and device manufacturers need to adapt and prepare for this new reality. Follow these cyber security steps.

5. Support-focused enterprise controls: sensor actuation charts

To document speed transition points, designers remove the aspect of time and adopt sensor activation charts. These charts purposely convey an object’s station-specific movement information to control system designers.

More popular stories on Control Engineering

As an online-only feature, we’re featuring the stories that finished 6-10 over the past month.

6. IT, OT experts having trouble tracking ICS threats

A survey of IT and OT professionals indicated that the is a lack of preparation for a potential cyber security attack against industrial control systems (ICSs), particularly in the energy industry, which faces more cyber attacks than any other industry.

7. Harnessing the power of predictive analytics  

The oil and gas industry has plenty of data; now it needs to put it to better use. 

8. PC-based control drives global adoption of Industrie 4.0, IIoT concepts

PC-based control systems are at the front lines of automation technology and information technology convergence (AT/IT) as businesses find ways to funnel data into a useful, actionable form designed to empower decision makers as they look to stay competitive.

9. Pay attention: Industrie 4.0 and ICS cybersecurity

Industrie 4.0 is propelling organizations and their production and service delivery capabilities far beyond steam power and factory electrification, and industrial control systems (ICSs) can provide a vital layer of protection to keep networks safe.

10. Enabling IIoT requires communication protocol translation

As implementations of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industrie 4.0 frameworks commence, network communication protocol translations are needed.

The list was developed using CFE Media’s web analytics for stories viewed on controleng.com, March 12 to April 11, for articles published within the last two months.  

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

Original content can be found at Oil and Gas Engineering.


Author Bio: Chris Vavra is senior editor for WTWH Media LLC.