Operator Interface
Units (OIU) and Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) exist to efficiently
link a human operator to a
machine. SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems
are used to acquire and archive key process
variables, as well as to monitor and alert operators to process
trends that are going out of tolerance on a complex
machine, process or production line.
Applied Sciences Group
has expertise in every aspect of OIU, HMI and SCADA system
design and development. Our
engineering staff has the programming and systems integration
skills required to implement customized systems for
virtually every industrial application.
Applied Sciences Group develops operator
interfaces with operator efficiency and ergonomics in mind.
Timeline and customer
permitting, we discuss operator
interface design requirements with the end user to make sure
the operator's input is applied to the overall look and feel
of the visual interface, the display.
Operator
interfaces are developed based on the end user's needs, the
machine's operational complexity, and budget:
| • |
Electromechanical panels with push buttons
and indicator lights are used for the simplest systems. |
| • |
Control panels containing small terminals, multi-line or graphical LCD displays are developed for those operations requiring simple choices or a few data values to be displayed, such as current status or an operation setpoint. |
| • |
PC-based SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) systems utilizing a full complement
of development and display tools are used to fully manage
and report on a complex machine, process or production
line. |
Software Development
Tools
There are several SCADA software packages that are commonly
used in industry. And while the programming of one maybe
very similar to that of another, there are intricacies of
each that ASG has learned through our broad background of
experience.
The most common packages we are adept at
working with are:
| • |
GE's iFIX and FIX32, and Cimplicity |
| • |
Wonderware's Factory Suite |
| • |
Allen-Bradley's RSView |
| • |
National Instrument's LabVIEW |
And when it comes to HMI development, Applied
Sciences Group is vendor agnostic. We will develop an HMI
using the customer's preferred package, or will offer a recommendation
upon request.
Report Generation and Data Archiving
Applied Sciences Group has also developed considerable expertise
with third party report generation, data archiving and
user interface tools that enhance the productivity of standard
SCADA systems, including:
| • |
Crystal Reports |
| • |
XL Reporter |
| • |
Proficy Real-time Information Portal(InfoAgent) |
| • |
Microsoft Office Tools (Excel, Access) |
| • |
SQL Server |
Device Driver Development
During most factory automation projects, there is usually
at least one peripheral device that cannot communicate
out-of-the-box with the selected SCADA package. Applied
Sciences Group is particularly adept at developing hardware
specific device drivers because our staff includes engineers
proficient at C++, C, Visual Basic and Assembler languages.
Design
Strategy
Applied Sciences Group never develops operator interfaces
independent of the machine or process; each must be designed
with the other in mind. We provide critical evaluation and
analysis throughout every aspect of system implementation
in order to guarantee that the interface cleanly mates to
the process and simultaneously makes the operator's job a
little easier.
Effective operator interfaces can not be designed in a vacuum.
We invite you to review our OIU - HMI -
SCADA case studies listed to the right, and would welcome
the opportunity to work with you to define your requirements,
provide a proposal for achieving your objectives, and then
put our expertise to work for you.
Please Contact
Us with your questions or requests. |
