MES stands for Manufacturing Execution Systems, which are essential computerized systems in manufacturing for real-time tracking and optimizing production processes. MES bridges the gap between ERP and SCADA systems, providing benefits like reduced waste, enhanced quality control, and improved inventory management.
To explore alternatives to MES, one can consider ERP, SCADA, HMI, DCS, PLC, ICS, IoT, BAS, DAS, RTU, MQTT, OPC, GUI, Tungsten, OIT, HCI, LED.
ERP
Tracing its roots back to the 1960s with the inception of Material Requirements Planning (MRP), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software has evolved over the years into an integrative tool for business functions. It is currently regarded as pivotal for the success and efficiency of businesses worldwide.
ERP’s Most Salient Features
Data integration: ERP software can integrate all processes needed to operate a business providing total visibility and real-time data for decision making.
Efficiency and Accuracy: By eliminating manual tasks and promoting efficient workflows, ERP software can significantly improve business productivity and accuracy.
AI and IoT Integration: The latest ERP solutions leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to predict future business trends and harness real-time data.
Feature
Benefits
Cloud capability
Offers ease in implementation, reduced IT staff requirement, and access to business data anytime, anywhere without the need for hardware purchases and maintenance.
Web-based Applications
Enables companies to operate remotely, increasing collaboration and connection of global teams.
Data Security
As data breaches become increasingly common, ERP provides data privacy, ensuring cybersecurity across all business functions.
ERP Downsides
Implementation Risks: Unsuccessful implementation of an ERP system may result in inefficiency or even disrupt operations.
Cost: Though cloud technology has reduced some expenditures, ERP implementation and usage can still be costly, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
ERP Use Cases
Use Case 1: Manufacturing Industry
ERP provides total visibility and elevates accuracy in the industry, particularly when integrated with IoT devices used for tracking inventory and production schedules.
Use Case 2: Retail Businesses
Data-driven decisions are vital for the retail industry. With its real-time data capability, ERP aids in informed business strategies.
Use Case 3: Technology Companies
Cloud-based ERP systems allow tech companies to function seamlessly worldwide, promoting efficient workflows and global team collaboration.
SCADA
Immerse your operations in the technical symphony of SCADA—Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition—a grand conductor of plant and equipment at the supervisory level. This central beacon of monitoring and control orchestrates complex industrial processes, swiftly detecting and correcting issues while patiently tracing the subtle arcs of trends over time.
SCADA Top Features
Universal Application: From industrial plants to water and waste control, oil and gas refining, transportation, telecom, and beyond, SCADA finds its musical notes in myriad sectors.
Complex Components: SCADA composes its symphony with a range of instruments— from Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), sensors, control relays, SCADA master units to communication channels—all playing in concert.
Advanced Controllers: SCADA’s field devices such as RTUs enable efficient and secure monitoring while the Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) ensure long-term cost efficacy.
Future-Ready: Presently an orchestra that uses modern technologies such as SQL databases and rapid application development capabilities, it promises a crescendo of evolution, with plans for 5G and quantum computing on the horizon.
Feature
Benefit
Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
Processes and communicates data for human operators, serving as a masterly conductor.
Edge Computing, AI, ML
Marking the future trajectory of SCADA, these represent next-generation shifts in technology.
SCADA Downsides
Cybersecurity Concerns: With more connected and integrated systems, SCADA can be vulnerable to cyber threats.
Legacy Limitations: Older SCADA systems may lack scalability, interoperability, and have limited support options.
SCADA Use Cases
Use Case 1: Energy
For the energy sector, SCADA stands as a lighthouse, guiding the mammoth ships of plant and equipment control, offering precise supervision and efficient real-time monitoring.
Use Case 2: Manufacturing
In the realm of manufacturing, SCADA elegantly weaves its composition, automating complex processes, and capturing in its intricate symphony the pulse of real-time data processing and event recording.
Use Case 3: Power
For the power industry, SCADA strikes a harmonious chord, its digital instruments efficiently controlling multiple tasks at remote locations and smoothly maintaining the flow of operations.
MQTT
Borne out of the necessity for efficient data transmission in the oil and gas industry, MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) has evolved over the years into a globally recognized ISO/IEC standard. It has become a go-to protocol for implementing Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, thanks to advancements in digital services, mobile capabilities, remote access, and edge computing.
MQTT Top Features
Offers a publish-subscribe architecture, decoupling data-producing devices from data-consuming applications.
Excellent for device integration, such as remote instrumentation and flow controllers.
Operates on top of TCP/IP, enabling scalable, reliable, and efficient machine-to-machine communication.
Supports several programming languages, allowing for easy implementation.
Provides modern authentication protocols like OAuth and TLS1.3 for secure data transmission.
Add-on specification, Sparkplug, optimizes MQTT for mission-critical apps with enhanced state management and data-rich payload.
Feature
Description
Client Code Reusability
MQTT’s client code, which was released into the public domain in 1999, is available under a royalty-free license, making it extremely cost-effective to use.
Security
MQTT uses Customer Managed Certificates and can be wrapped in a WSS envelope for popping data directly into a web browser, ensuring optimal security.
Massive Scalability
This protocol is capable of handling connections with millions of low-power devices on low-bandwidth networks, ideal for large scale IoT deployments.
MQTT Limitations
While MQTT supports password and token authentication, it doesn’t natively offer end-to-end encryption, potentially raising security concerns.
MQTT is not designed to handle large data packets efficiently, which could influence performance in highly data-intensive applications.
MQTT Use Cases
Use Case 1: Remote Data Collection in Hydraulic Fracturing Operations
With MQTT’s high latency and low bandwidth capabilities, it can efficiently collect data from remote devices in hydraulic fracturing, where conventional communication may struggle.
Use Case 2: Cloud-based Services
Massive platforms like Amazon Web Services use MQTT to manage trillions of messages, proving its effectiveness in cloud-based applications and IoT systems.
Use Case 3: Smart City PoC Design
For crafting smart city PoC designed for efficient message transport, MQTT fits perfectly. Its compatibility with security measures makes it a viable option for urban IoT systems.
OPC: The Open Platform Communications Champion
Meet OPC, known formally as Open Platform Communications. OPC is a titan in the industrial telecommunications arena, a standard elucidated by a savvy automation task force back in 1996.
OPC Top Features
Real-Time Data Communication: OPC enables instant data communication between control devices, spanning diverse manufacturers.
MES & ERP Support: With OPC combined with XML and Web services technologies, it offers robust MES and ERP support.
Comprehensive Security Measures: OPC UA offers unbeatable security with end-to-end encryption plus authentication and auditing.
Scalable and Flexible: OPC considers every device as an independent object, leading to enhanced scalability and flexibility.
Feature
Description
Data Access (DA)
This most commonly used specification enables real-time data reading and writing.
Historical Data Access (HDA)
Gives you access to archived data, making it a digital historian.
Alarms and Events
Facilitates exchange of alarm and event messages effectively.
OPC Disadvantages
Usage Complexity: Some OPC specifications are only available to OPC Foundation members, potentially restricting its use.
Technology Dependence: OPC Servers rely on Microsoft’s OLE technology, which might pose compatibility issues with non-Microsoft systems.
OPC Use Cases
Use case 1: Industrial Automation
OPC’s standard allows seamless data exchange in industrial automation, ensuring both security and reliability.
Use case 2: Process Control
If controlling your processes in real-time is what you seek, then OPC’s Data Access (DA) protocol is your ultimate ally.
Use case 3: Building Automation
Whether you’re managing HVAC, lighting or safety systems, OPC packs a punch in streamlining building automation.
GUI
The Graphical User Interface (GUI) is a revolutionary computer program that enables intuitive communication with a computer via symbols, visual metaphors, and a pointing device. It’s most notably implemented in Apple Inc.’s Macintosh and Microsoft Corporation’s Windows operating systems. Its development involved innovation from various luminaries in the field of technology, and is now the standard interface in many computer systems.
GUI Top Features
Intuitiveness: GUI replaced the textual interfaces of early computing with a more intuitive system, thus simplifying and enhancing user interaction.
Widespread Implementation: GUI is best known for its implementation in major operating systems such as the Macintosh and Windows.
Innovation: Its advent revolutionized computer operation, making it user-friendly and easier to learn even for computer novices.
Versatility: GUI is highly adaptable and is now the standard interface in many computer systems.
Feature
Description
Icons
Visual representations of an application or folder making navigation user-friendly.
Windows
Contains the content of an application, facilitating multitasking and easy organization of workspaces.
Pointing devices
Control method for on-screen objects, the most common one is the ‘mouse’.
GUI Disadvantages
Complex Creation: Designing a GUI-based application can be time consuming and requires a lot of resources.
Dependence on Power: GUIs often require significant computational power and thus are less suitable for systems with low resources.
GUI Use Cases
General Computing
Due to its ease of use, GUI is implemented universally in general-purpose computing use, reducing the learning curve for beginners.
Specialized Workstations
Workplaces use GUI for specialized workstations like the Xerox Star for optimizing productivity.
Gaming
GUI extends into the gaming world, providing an engaging and intuitive platform for game interaction.
Tungsten
An extraordinary blend of technology and natural substance, Tungsten Fabric is a standout among Manufacturing Execution System (MES) alternatives. Orchestrating a striking amalgamation between the highest melting and boiling point metal and advanced technology elements, Tungsten Fabric offers unparalleled services for varied use cases from military applications to high-speed steel machining.
Top Tungsten Features
Integrated Management System: Includes a web GUI, plugins for platforms such as Kubernetes, OpenShift, Mesos, OpenStack, and VMware vSphere.
Collaboration: Works with technology alliances like Red Hat, Mirantis, Canonical, and NEC.
Versatility: Tungsten vRouter provides native Layer 3 services for hosts and containers/Virtual Machines.
Progressive Manufacturing Techniques: Utilizes spark plasma sintering, chemical vapor deposition, and selective laser melting.
Diverse Application: From tungsten arc welding to manufacturing dense inert metals for explosives, Tungsten is widely used.
Robustness
Alloyed with nickel, iron, or cobalt to form heavy alloys for military applications. Tungsten steel, with its toughness, is used for hard permanent magnets.
Advanced Uses
The inclusion of tungsten enhances superalloys like Hastelloy and Stellite. Compounded with carbide, it finds multiple applications from woodworking to mining.
High-speed Steel
Tungsten can form up to 18% of high-speed steel used in turbine blades, and wear-resistant parts and coatings.
Tungsten Limitations
Tungsten is not traded as a futures contract. Independent pricing references are used basis contracts.
Applications requiring high density like ballast in race cars or rotor weights for helicopters can raise cost concerns.
Tungsten Use Cases
Use Case 1: Advanced Manufacturing
Tungsten’s unique properties such as high melting point, tensile strength, and low thermal expansion make it invaluable in advanced manufacturing techniques.
Use Case 2: Military Applications
When alloyed with nickel, iron, or cobalt, Tungsten forms heavy-duty, robust alloys that are invaluable in military applications.
Use Case 3: High-speed Steel and Carbide Tools
With up to 18% tungsten composition, high-speed steel finds significant usage in turbine blades, wear-resistant parts, and coatings. Tungsten carbide, is extensively used in an array of applications from woodworking to mining.
OIT
Enter the OIT (Operator Interface Terminal), an advanced controller system that facilitates internal registers read/write functionality and communicates with devices like printers and screens through a Message Request Register (MRR).
Top Features of OIT
Unique message request registers: Adjust and display screens based on system inputs.
Multi-language support: Cater to a diverse global audience.
Current Message and Status Registers: Provide instant information display and promote data handshakes.
Key Coils: Allows for effective keypress data transfer and monitoring on OIT.
Register Monitor: Facilitates control over memory, making it a cinch to manage up to 25 monitors per OIT screen.
Linear scaling
Fosters operator-friendly data
Control keys
Enables OIT key press tracking by the controller
Multiple register monitoring
Allows for comprehensive monitoring of up to 16 controller memory registers simultaneously
Downsides of OIT
Segregation in Function key coils and Control key coils can be initially complex to understand.
Configuration settings require tech sophistication to manage up to 25 monitors per OIT screen.
OIT Pricing
Boulder OIT pricing includes Private cloud server at $115/month, Virtual Machine Management at $30/month, 24×7 support at $20/month, VM CPU at $85/month, VM Memory at $5/GB/month, VM Storage at $0.20/GB/month, and consulting services which range from $133/hour to $266/hour after hours.
OIT Use Cases
Use Case 1 – Industrial Manufacturing
OIT shines in scenarios where parameter control and monitoring are paramount. Its versatility has been proven in temperature, time, and pressure displays management with applications in ovens, autoclaves, and clean-in-place systems.
Use Case 2 – Control Systems
OIT finds application in control systems that demand instantaneous status updates. ProControl Furnace Control System, for instance, leverages OIT for PLC communication, recipe storage, operating behavior logging, and multilayered password protection.
Use Case 3 – Robotic Operations
For robotics, OIT offers precise, real-time control over complex operations. Its Ethernet TCP/IP preference for networking and burgeoning use of OPC, wireless, propriety communication positions it as a go-to digital solution for futuristic, automated industries.
HCI
Hyper-converged Infrastructure (HCI) is a software-centric architecture that fuses compute, storage, and virtualization resources into an integrated system. Its core design purpose is to address the challenges of heterogenous environments.
HCI Top Features
Unified management framework that effectively pools resources.
Intelligent multi-system updates with the use of vCenter Administrator account.
Storage of user credentials in encrypted RSA lockboxes in each VxRail Manager.
Enables software bundle downloads, pre-update health checks, and cluster update initiation.
Enterprise-scale hybrid cloud infrastructure.
Key Aspect
Description
Hardware/Software Deployment
Can be implemented via multiple avenues including hardware, software, full replacement, or per-application deployment.
HCI Limitations
Specific issues encountered with power density.
Faced with vendor lock-in issues when scalability is warranted.
HCI Pricing
HCI licensing is standard for VxRail nodes. There is an additional license add-on available for multi-system updates. Moreover, evaluation licenses are time-based and requested via the sales team from product management.
HCI Use Cases
Use Case 1: Real-time Data Analytics
Due to its integrated nature, HCI can deliver exceptional performance in real-time data analytics tasks.
Use Case 2: Active Management
Companies are increasingly moving to HCI for its speed, agility, and ease of operational management using software-defined virtualization technologies.
Use Case 3: Edge Computing
With the rise of edge computing, HCI’s infrastructure shines by providing critical support for container clusters, machine learning algorithms, and streaming data analytics.
LED
Emerging from a rich history of lighting control advancements beginning in the 1950s, LED technology now presents a cutting-edge alternative in the control systems landscape.
LED Top Features
Evolving control interfaces: Transitioning from early systems that used sliders or faders to computerised consoles and now, interactive, graphical light consoles.
DMX512 protocol: Developed in 1986, it manages a ‘universe’ of data, controlling 512 channels making LED systems highly interoperable.
Advanced LED technologies: Can be effectively integrated by wireless technology.
Wireless Solutions
Benefits
Ease of design, programming, installation, and adjustment
Improved flexibility and future adaptability
Approximately 70% faster installation
Allows simple real-time app-based setup
Scalable over time
Update of traditional solutions made easier
LED Downsides
Infrastructure complexity: Early requirements of a wire from the console to each dimmer, may have increased system infrastructure complexity.
Multiple DMX channels: LED fixtures and moving lights require utilization of more than one DMX channel, which may be seen as a limitation in certain applications.
LED Pricing
Costs are variable, based on the system, property size and installation company. Basic smart systems can range from $200-$500 per room, advanced systems can go from $500-$2000 per room and whole-house systems can cost between $3000 – $10,000+. Additional features like voice control integration and smart bulbs may drive cost higher.
LED Use Cases
Use case 1
For advanced lighting control, LED technology with its developments, like embedded Fixture-based luminaire-level lighting controls (LLLC), offers excellent adaptability and precision.
Use case 2
In the world of smart homes, LED technology offers great advantages like seamless HVAC integration and enhanced home security.
Use case 3
For scalable solutions in evolving technology environments, LED’s wireless technology is a standout, making system updates and expansion significantly easier.
HMI
The HMI (Human-Machine Interface) acts as a crucial link between machines and human operators in industrial environments. With its distinctive capacity to visualize data, monitor machine functioning, and oversee KPIs, HMI has become an integral asset to industries including energy, manufacturing, water treatment, and more.
HMI Best Features
Provides a clear visualization of data to track production time, trends, tags, and KPIs.
Facilitates remote monitoring and data access thanks to the rise of mobile HMI.
Interfaces efficiently with Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and input/output sensors.
Closely related to SCADA systems, combining monitoring, control, and data acquisition.
Includes advanced touch-screen capability, capitalizing on the ubiquity of smartphones.
Feature
Description
Data Centralization
Brings together disparate data for improved analysis and operations.
High-Performance HMIs
Modern iterations exhibit vast improvements in efficiency and functionality.
Integration with AR/VR
Newer HMI devices integrate AR/VR for enhanced manufacturing visualization.
HMI Limitations
Lack of standardization in HMI systems can lead to operational inefficiencies.
The effectiveness of HMI/SCADA hinges on a changed mindset and culture of continuous improvement among employees.
Though HMI technology has evolved significantly, legacy systems and their integration present challenges.
HMI Use Cases
Use Case 1 – Industrial Manufacturing
HMI is instrumental in industrial manufacturing, providing crucial real-time data and KPIs, and allowing for predictive maintenance and efficient control of machinery.
Use Case 2 – Energy Sector
In the energy sector, HMI devices present opportunities for efficient data monitoring, tracking production trends, and enabling intelligent control.
Use Case 3 – Water Treatment Facilities
In water treatment facilities, SCADA HMI’s ability to monitor, alarm, and control operations ensures effective and smooth operations.
DCS
At the heart of process management lies the DCS, a Distributed Control System. DCS is a pioneering automated control framework that decentralizes commands across numerous elements, optimizing interactions and enhancing process efficiency.
DCS Top Features
Decentralized Control Principle: Individual monitoring, reporting and control fostering efficient system management.
Database Management: DCS employs set configuration tools for control logic, graphics and system security.
Integration Flexibility: Supports modifications and upgrades, promoting seamless integration with existing industry architecture.
Reliability: DCS, acting as a centralized operator supervisory control, makes systems more reliable and reduces installation costs.
Feature
Benefit
Resilience
DCS structure mitigates the effects of single processor failure.
Information Distribution
DCS promotes proper information distribution with its common command structure.
Market Growth
The DCS market is projected to increase to $23.2 billion by 2026.
DCS Limitations
Size Necessity: While resourceful, DCS is better suited for larger facilities, where the need for advanced process control and the handling of substantial I/O points is more pronounced.
DCS Use Cases
Use case 1: Power Generation
Empowered by DCS, power generation facilities can efficiently monitor and control complex processes, enhancing reliability and safety.
Use case 2: Pharmaceuticals and Biotech
Biotech and pharmaceutical industries find DCS instrumental in maintaining precision, ensuring process integrity, and complying with stringent standards.
Use case 3: Manufacturing
Manufacturing plants leverage the benefits of DCS’s decentralized control for optimization of operations, maintenance ease, and increased production efficiency.
PLC
Enter the world of PLCs, the Programmable Logic Controllers that are integral to modern manufacturing automation. Invented in the late ’60s, these controllers are crucial in replacing hardwired relays and timers, enhancing operation efficiency multifold over the years.
PLC Top Features
Size: Initially the size of suitcases, PLCs have drastically reduced in scale without compromising on ability, making them compact and versatile.
Power: With every passing decade, PLCs have added muscle to their functionality becoming faster and more powerful.
Standardization: The introduction of the IEC 61131-3 Standard saw all PLC software being gauged against it, simplifying understanding of the programming language.
Integration: Modern PLCs offer extensive process integrations with ERP, MES systems, and SCADA.
Feature
Description
Digital Operation
Defined by NEMA as a ‘Digitally operating electronic apparatus with a programmable memory’, PLCs record crucial machine metrics in real-time.
Multiple Communication Protocols
An array of advanced PLC features like synchronized support for multiple communication protocols add to their ease of use.
PLC Components
The heart of a PLC comprises a CPU with processor, memory, Input/Output modules, and power supply making it a robust control system.
PLC Disadvantages
The complexity of PLCs can make troubleshooting a hurdle.
Plcs require a skilled workforce for effective usage and maintenance.
PLC Use Cases
Use case 1 – Manufacturing Automation
PLC, with its roots from General Motors, finds extensive application in car manufacturing through automation of robotic arms.
Use case 2 – Aviation
PLCs play a crucial role in maintenance of aviation infrastructure like runway control and other complex systems.
Use case 3 – Traffic Management
From traffic signal control to smoke alarm control, PLCs are at the core of urban traffic management systems.
ICS (Industrial Control Systems)
An Industrial Control System (ICS) is a comprehensive suite of devices, processes, and networks tasked with the operation and automation of industrial tasks. ICS amalgamates the functions of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) variables, creating a unified and efficient system.
ICS Top Features
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA): Provides supervisory level control and is primarily used for long-distance process monitoring and control.
Distributed Control Systems (DCS): Centrally supervises and controls production systems within a single location, reducing the impact of a single fault on the overall system.
Large Array of Components: Includes PLC, RTU, Control Loop, HMI, Control Server, SCADA Server, IED and Data Historian.
All-Encompassing Communication Protocols: Supports PROFIBUS, DNP3, Modbus & OPC for seamless integration and communication.
Feature
Benefit
IT/OT Convergence
Provides integrated control and greater supply chain visibility.
Usage in multiple industries
Applicable to manufacturing, energy, water treatment & transportation industries.
Technological advancements
ICS is evolving with the rise of cloud computing, big data analytics, and IoT.
ICS Limitations
Target for Cybercriminals: The IT/OT convergence has made ICS a larger target for cyberattacks.
Vulnerabilities: ICS is susceptible to targeted assaults, and these risks are amplified due to fast-growing technological advancements.
ICS Pricing
ICS implementation costs can vary greatly depending on the specific requirements of your operations, such as scale, complexity, and industry specifics.
ICS Use Cases
Use case 1: Manufacturing
ICS systems can streamline operations within manufacturing plants by providing centralized control, improving efficiency and reducing potential errors.
Use case 2: Energy
In the energy sector, ICS can help in long-distance process monitoring and control, thus facilitating smooth power distribution.
Use case 3: Water Treatment
ICS technologies are also extensively used in water treatment plants, helping to automate and supervise treatment processes effectively.
IoT
Enter the world of the Internet of Things (IoT), an intricate network of devices embedded with sensors and software, exchanging vital data over the internet. This is where the boundaries between the physical and the digital blur, creating tangible solutions and innovations.
IoT Top Features
Data-driven insights: IoT offers valuable insights through data collection and analysis, helping to drive decision-making processes.
Operational efficiency: By leveraging AI and machine learning, IoT can streamline operations, reducing waste and increasing productivity.
Business model creation and Revenue generation: IoT opens up new avenues for business models and revenue streams, fostering growth and development.
Remote Monitoring and Control: IoT facilitates remote operation and monitoring of devices, creating an environment of ease and convenience.
Application Areas
Benefits
Manufacturing and Industrial Controls
Enables machine monitoring, product quality monitoring, and automated control systems, leading to increased efficiency and lower operation costs.
Retail
Assists in inventory management, customer experience, and supply chain optimization, improving overall business performance and customer satisfaction.
Healthcare
Facilitates remote patient monitoring and wearable devices for human health analytics, promoting better patient care and health outcomes.
IoT Limitations
Data Security and Privacy: IoT devices can be targets for cyberattacks, especially if the software and security protocols are not updated regularly. This can pose a threat to data security and privacy.
Complex Integration: Installing and integrating IoT systems can be intricate and demanding, requiring specialized skills and resources.
IoT Use Cases
Use case 1: Smart Home Automation
Iot’s power control is in action in the realm of smart home automation where it controls lighting, heating, air conditioning, security systems and cameras, providing owners with convenience and peace of mind.
Use case 2: Connected Automotive Industry
The automotive industry has embraced IoT, resulting in groundbreaking innovations like connected cars. These digitally advanced vehicles, maintained by manufacturers or dealers, offer upgraded software, better customer relationship, and seamless services, thereby redefining the automotive industry.
Use case 3: Digital Supply Chain Optimization
IoT has revolutionized supply chain operations by enabling remote monitoring and decision-making based on real-time data and insights. This not only improves efficiency but also paves the way for more proactive business strategies.
BAS
Dating back to the 1600s, Building Automation Systems (BAS) have continuously innovated, leading to the conception of modern thermostats, pneumatic systems, and digital controls. The BAS market, expected to reach a value of $100.6 billion by 2022, is now integral to the design of green constructions, ensuring energy, air, and water conservation.
BAS Top Features
The birth of modern thermostats led to a wave of automation in regulating the building environment.
BAS presented the first PID controller in 1925, revolutionizing automated control systems.
The rise of direct digital controls in the mid-1980s stemmed from more accessible computer systems.
BACnet protocol, developed by ASHRAE in 1995, brought a solution to interoperability issues, being adopted by numerous companies.
ABB’s Aspect and Integra come with cutting-edge HVAC controls systems, integrating well with any BACnet device for superior interoperability.
Feature
Impact
Niagara controls framework
The most widely adopted controls framework globally, integrating multiple controls including Trane, Carrier.
Linking Systems
Modern BAS link access control, security systems, fire alarm systems, and elevators, enhancing building security.
Energy Smart
Future BAS are expected be energy-smart, a boon for promoting sustainability.
BAS Limitations
Improper configuration of BMS systems can lead to a significant increase in energy usage, accounting for about 8% of total energy use in the US.
Many traditional buildings’ systems operate independently, hindering the full potential and effectiveness of BAS.
BAS Use Cases
Use case 1: Green Buildings
BAS is paramount in designing green buildings, ensuring essential energy conservation and promoting sustainability.
Use case 2: Retrofitting Traditional Buildings
With high interoperability, BAS can be seamlessly integrated into existing systems in traditional buildings, upgrading them with automated controls.
Use case 3: Comprehensive Building Control
BAS brings merged building operational systems – heating, lighting, ventilation, sterilizing, and security, under a single, manageable umbrella, optimizing overall functioning.
DAS
DAS, or Distributed Antenna System, tackles poor in-building coverage by setting up a network of small antennas. Acting as repeaters, these antennas are connected to a central controller linked to the base station of a wireless carrier network.
DAS Top Features
Modular structure
Scaleable to handle up to 240 analog or digital outputs
8 bits address bus with 16 addresses for internal use
Baud rate from 150 to 38.4 kbaud with 32k bps position for NASA serial data standard
Transparency to mobile devices and provision of voice and data services similar to a cellular network tower
Integration capability with third-party network management software
Feature
Benefit
AIMOS
Automated management platform with robust fault, configuration, and inventory management abilities
RF frequency allocation
Improves performance and data download speed
Active DAS
Signals amplified as needed, ensuring maximum coverage and quality
DAS Limitations
Costly deployments
Installation process is labor-intense
Often requires involvement of the carrier
DAS Use Cases
Use case 1
DAS is highly suitable for densely populated indoor spaces such as malls, medical centers, and high-rise buildings, where it can ensure consistent and quality coverage.
Use case 2
Research and experimental setups can benefit from DAS’s high capacity and modular structure that seamlessly integrates any experiment to a computer for data recording and processing.
Use case 3
DAS’s automated management platform AIMOS comes in handy for IT managers by allowing automated tasks, visibility of devices, fault analysis for troubleshooting, and evaluation of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
RTU
RTU (Remote Terminal Unit), a microprocessor-driven electronic device, creates a robust interface between real-world objects and distributed control or SCADA systems. They are built for harsh conditions and feature varying power efficiency, often being solar-powered in hard-to-reach or high-stress environments.
RTU Top Features
Microprocessor-based control unit, adept at telemetrics and responsive to control messages.
IEC 61131-3 programming standard adaptability, a modern industrial automation standard.
Capable of communication through RS485 or wireless links, complemented by solar power efficiency.
Integrates complex single or multiple circuit cards, including CPU, communication interface(s) and varied input/output cards.
Versatile monitoring through various analog inputs and translated raw data into recognizable units.
Unique on-line addressing capability allows multiple RTUs sharing a communication line.
Can switch power to field devices using high current capacity relays.
Autonomous mode operation during maintenance, making RTUs extremely reliable.
Feature
Benefit
Power Efficiency
Optimized for solar operation, reducing operational costs and increasing sustainability.
Varied I/O Capacities
Flexibility in handling multiple types of signals and information processing.
IEC 61131-3 Compliant
Assures compatibility with most current industrial automation systems.
RTU Disadvantages
Setup software required to define communication protocols and troubleshoot issues.
Higher-end RTUs with advanced features can be costly.
RTU Pricing
RTU pricing ranges from $500 for entry-level models up to over $5,000 for premium variants with advanced features.
RTU Use Cases
Remote Monitoring
RTUs are invaluable in industries requiring remote monitoring like oil and gas, electric utilities, water utilities and more. They effectively guard pipelines and grid systems worldwide.
Extreme Environments
Designed to withstand harsh conditions, RTUs are suitable for applications in challenging locations – think the Biosphere 2 project.
Diverse Industries
With an ability to accommodate complex networks, high-end RTUs find use in food processing, automobile manufacturing, refineries, among other sectors.
Hannah Stewart
Content writer @ Aircada, tech enthusiast, metaverse explorer, and coffee addict. Weaving stories in digital realms.
