OPC UA remains a key communication technology, offering a wide range of functions for modeling simple to complex information models. While it provides many opportunities, it can overwhelm new users. Phoenix Contact addresses this with intuitive solutions and application examples.
In Industry 4.0, OPC UA is a key technology for mapping and accessing complex data. Driven by the OPC Foundation, it is based on three pillars:
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Using anomaly detection in press shops allows early problem detection and proactive maintenance, minimizing downtimes and ensuring product quality, as demonstrated by Changan Automobile.
Automotive companies face global competitive pressure; therefore, they are driven to seek efficient production methods. Moreover, as innovation leaders, they face social and political expectations to build Net Zero factories. Car production, for instance, starts with pressing metal plates into molds to form body parts, a crucial and energy-intensive step. Consequently, this process impacts product quality and can cause significant production delays and cost increases if issues arise.
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AI could revolutionize automation. How can Time-Sensitive Networks (TSN) make AI applications easier and more cost-effective? What network requirements does AI need for the future? What new applications and solutions can TSN enable, and what is the path forward?
Since detailed TSN information is widely available, this article will explore AI-focused applications benefiting from TSN, excluding motion control. These examples aim to inspire exploring options beyond current limits.
The rapid development of AI tools, accelerated hardware capabilities, and integrated Ethernet interfaces is opening new applications and segments. These generally require:
Conventional 100 Mbit industrial Ethernet can’t fully meet these requirements. Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) offers solutions. The following examples show how AI-focused applications can be implemented or improved by a convergent TSN network.
Continue readingVirtualization is not new; it was first introduced in mainframe computers in the 1960s. Since 2000, its use has grown and is now widespread in many companies. Phoenix Contact has developed a virtual industrial controller. What advantages does this solution offer for factory automation?
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Fuel cell systems are crucial for the All Electric Society, requiring efficient, reliable, and safe operation. What benefits do industrial solutions in connection technology, networking, and automation offer?
Though fuel cells have existed for over a century, they have recently gained attention for power generation. They convert the chemical energy stored in hydrogen and oxygen into electrical power, heat, and water without local pollution or noise. Additionally, fuel cells are more efficient than internal combustion engines, as they aren’t limited by Carnot efficiency.
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