At Automate 2024, Ken Crawford from Weidmuller showcased advancements in the ease of applying Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies in manufacturing settings. Automation World reported that he demonstrated how to wirelessly collect IIoT data over several miles, which is particularly useful for inter-facility applications or field-deployed installations.
Using Weidmuller signal conditioners and wireless I/O radios, data from solar panels is converted, scaled and transmitted to another location where it can be read by a PLC via Modbus TCP. This process highlights the straightforward nature of digitizing and utilizing data without the need for extensive programming.
The demonstration included a Weidmuller edge agent that converts PLC data into human-readable values and sends it wirelessly to a mobile dashboard, exemplifying the simplicity of data collection and transmission.
Crawford illustrated the practicality and flexibility of IIoT implementations for monitoring and managing critical systems with a remote monitoring example of an uninterruptable power supply. This showcased the ability to remotely access data such as operational status, cycling frequency and offline duration.
This remote access is enhanced by automated alerts sent to key personnel when events occur. Additionally, the open ecosystem of Weidmuller’s uOS, running on the UC20 PLC, allows users to integrate various programming environments and modules, such as Codesys, Node-RED, and Ignition, making it easier to develop custom applications.
