MIT engineers have fabricated a tunable “metalens” that can focus on objects at multiple depths, without changes to its physical position or shape. The lens is made not of solid glass but of a transparent “phase-changing” material that, after heating, can rearrange its atomic structure and thereby change the way the material interacts with light. […]
Five days of online training are planned for March 29 through April 2 as a continuing education opportunity from CFE Media and Technology, owners of Control Engineering, Plant Engineering, Consulting-Specifying Engineer and other recognized industry resources. The five days of training include presentations from industry experts, videos, research, live Q&A sessions, and discussion forums. Topics […]
The top 5 most read articles online, from Feb. 15-21, 2021 for Control Engineering covered the 2021 Engineers’ Choice Awards, the evolution of control systems in artificial intelligence, top 5 VFD parameter changes explained, and more. Links to each article below. 1. Spotlight on Innovation: 2021 Engineers’ Choice Awards Control Engineering announces the best automation, […]
SEMI, the industry association serving the global electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, and 16 organizations representing industries including automotive, medical and technology urged the Biden administration to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research. The letter calls for funding the initiatives authorized in the CHIPS for America Act and the enactment of a federal investment […]
Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and human-machine interface (HMI) systems have great potential for manufacturers. However, there are many details that might be missed that could cause major headaches and reduce their overall effectiveness. Consider these four key elements when using them. 1. Pay attention to situational awareness: Problems often occur when users fail […]
The market for industrial automation products is continuing to skyrocket, with ever more ambitious demands for advanced, data-driven solutions. To thrive in this sector, it is more favorable for automation specialists to develop strong collaborations with other industry players. Groups that rely on industrial automation open networking standards deliver high-quality, interoperable products and are able […]
As the COVID-19 pandemic unraveled in early 2020, the majority of businesses around the globe were forced to radically adjust their operations to minimize person-to-person interactions. Companies whose business were deemed non-essential were mandated to halt in-person gatherings, sometimes for extended periods of time, resulting in severe socio-economic hardships. Meanwhile, competing forces had been reshaping […]
The Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) will hold its Annual Convention and Solutions Exposition June 27-29, 2021, at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Tex. The theme for the 2021 Convention is “Keeping Industries Moving.” Jerry Gray, EASA Chairman of the Board, said in a press release, “One of our responsibilities as electromechanical […]
Learning Objectives Control system technology improvements can make plant operations faster and safer. Recent workplace changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic have forced operators to make their control systems more flexible. Advances in edge computing, digital twins and computing power let control systems make more decisions. Organizations invest in control systems intending that the control systems will […]
In searching for new manufacturing solutions that increase efficiency, provide greater flexibility and improve quality, there is one central choice – select a turnkey solution from an end-to-end partner, or leverage independent suppliers for different section parts of the final system used for industrial manufacturing. Leveraging an end-to-end system integrator to craft an advanced, turnkey […]