INDUSTRY News
Partners work towards a single standard in device interfacing
The OPC Foundation (OPCF) and the FieldComm Group (FCG) are collaborating towards a single standard of interfacing instrumentation devices based on OPC UA and field-level extensions, named OPC UA FX (Field eXchange). The goal is to provide an interoperable interface between PLC/DCS and instrumentation devices, such as transmitters, instruments and actuators, used in many industries, including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, water/ wastewater, and pulp and paper.
To begin this work, a new OPC UA Instrumentation Working Group is being hosted by the OPC Foundation, under the leadership of the Field Level Communications (FLC) Initiative. Participation in the working group is open to members of the OPC Foundation, as well as corporate members of the FieldComm Group. Many well-known manufacturers in the process and factory automation industries are represented within this working group, to ensure a uniform, worldwide and coordinated standard for OPC-UA-based instrumentation devices.
To achieve inter-vendor interoperability of such devices, the working group will add to the UAFX base specifications and the definition of interfaces and behaviours, including: • Commonly-used interfaces and data types for the industries covered, including functional safety; • Diagnostic information specific to instrumentation devices;
• Operation modes of instrumentation devices; • State machines and timing models for instrumentation- specific functionality, where appropriate. The new instrumentation device profile specification will use PubSub and can be combined with different underlying communication protocols (e.g., UDP/IP) and physical layers (e.g., Ethernet-APL) to support all relevant applications in discrete and process manufacturing, including safety instrumentation based on OPC UA Safety and deterministic data exchange based on Ethernet Time-Sensitive Networking.
ABB COLUMN
WHY UNCERTAIN TIMES CALL FOR A ROBOTIC SOLUTION
With the combined impact of COVID, Brexit, supply-chain disruption, rising energy prices and geopolitical disputes making for uncertain times, now might not seem the most attractive time to make capital expenditure decisions. But, with the current upheaval and the uncertainty it brings, a move to robotic automation could actually prove to be a wise investment.
If there is a key takeaway from the events that have unfolded since the outbreak of COVID at the start of 2020, it is the need to adopt a mindset that prepares for the uncharted unpredictability of the ‘new normal’. The mantra “hope for the best, prepare for the worst” has probably never been more apt than it is at the current time. Offering the flexibility to handle sudden and unexpected changes in production, robots are the ideal solution for these unpredictable times. Unlike most insurance policies that get paid for but rarely used,
robots can provide tangible returns from day one. A major benefit is their flexibility. Robotic automation on manufacturing and packing lines is programmable – and reprogrammable – enabling robots to handle changes in the type and quantity of products, with the ability to operate around the clock, if necessary. With the growing simplicity afforded by developments in
programming technology that enable even the least-experienced operator to quickly get to grips with using and configuring a robot, investing in robotic automation can be key to achieving a production line that can quickly be adjusted to changing circumstances. Today, the higher the level of automation in a factory and the less
reliant it is on manual operations, the better positioned it will be for whatever lies ahead to meet variable levels of demand. Ultimately, the company that prepares for tomorrow will be the one that is most likely to succeed tomorrow. There is already plenty of compelling evidence proving why integrating robotic automation increasingly makes sense for manufacturing stability in the future. As more manufacturers make a switch to robots to meet their challenges, this evidence is set to become even stronger and more compelling. To see how your business could grow with robots, visit
www.abb.com/robotics.
Nigel Platt LBL Manager, UK and Ireland, ABB Robotics
automationmagazine.co.uk
Automation | October 2022
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