FEATURE Sensors & Sensing Systemsy
of switch points were fi tted with small heaters powered by gas or electricity. Using a complex algorithm based on data from temperature and humidity sensors, ice and snow on the rails are now detected automatically. A complex PID control system starts the heaters to prevent build- up of snow or ice on the switch points. At each railway station, automation is performed by a TBox RTU located in a control cabinet. Depending on the complexity and size of the station, one or more remote I/O modules are provided as sub-stations in the fi eld to operate and monitor a group of switch-point heaters. Via a local RS 485 network up to several kilometres long, the sub-stations handle measurement and control tasks of the individual heating systems. Despite electrical interference from passing trains, automation and communications remain stable. Each sub-station has its own operating console for maintenance and manual control. Only one device is required for communications and remote control of the heating systems. All the data (correct sensor operation, set-points, outside temperature, gas pressure, present consumption, etc.) from the RTU is transmitted to a central station using SCADA software and an Ethernet network with the TCP/IP protocol. The WAN (wide-area network) uses fi bre optics and Ethernet communication. For redundancy and safety, each TBox RTU has its own GSM modem that can be directly accessed for maintenance or control purposes, or for e-mails and alarms to GSM mobiles.
Kingfisher Plus modular RTUs
The main benefi ts of the automated telemetry system for the train operator are that it delivered an extremely fast return on investment due to the signifi cant savings in electricity and gas consumption by the fully-controlled heating system. Latest RTUs provide utmost reliability of the hardware and software components, which was essential due to the extremely harsh environment (high electrical interference and low temperatures). In addition, the system allows for local data logging of events and recording energy consumption, temperatures and equipment operating time, which is proving to be valuable information for the management team. The system provides automatic alarm signalling to key maintenance personnel in charge of the switch points.
Powerful devices RTUs are now powerful devices that play an integral part of a robust automated
process in a wide range of sectors. Ongoing innovation will help drive this forward – improvements in processing power and throughput are helping keep up with increasing demand for data. Inbuilt redundancy and resilience are helping, too, as are cloud data storage capabilities. An RTU is a smart choice for controlling multiple processes, without direct intervention from a controller or master. Being basically a direct interface between fi eld sensors, actuators and a central control unit, it provides advanced control functions. Multiple RTUs installed in part or across the entire plant, collect digital data, forwarding it or acting autonomously – depending on the task, have become an essential part of modern automated processes.
CONTACT:
Ovarro
www.ovarro.com
SICK’s Deep Learning suite for simplifi ed AI inspection S
ICK launches a suite of Deep Learning apps and services to simplify machine vision quality inspection for challenging components, assemblies, surfaces or food produce, especially those that have previously defi ed automation and remained distinguishable only by human inspection.
The suite radically reduces set-up time and cost by enabling AI image classifi cation to run directly onboard SICK smart devices. Programmable SICK devices take decisions automatically using specially-optimised neural networks, and run accurate and reliable inspections that would have previously been extremely challenging or simply
automationmagazine.co.uk
ready-to-use Intelligent Inspection Sensor App provides quick and easy integration with a large set of confi gurable tools. The SICK AppSpace software platform off ers even greater customisation. “What formerly took a team of developers half a year to create, with SICK Deep Learning can now be achieved in a just a few hours,” said Neil Sandhu, SICK’s UK Product Manager. “Now, teams can revisit inspection processes that have previously been too complex to automate.”
impossible to achieve in high-speed automated processes.
SICK’s Deep Learning Starter App is suitable for entry-level users, whereas the
CONTACT:
SICK
www.sick.co.uk
Automation | November 2020 19
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