Development & design

Feature (4)
  • Verify control systems before committing to hardware
    Embedded control system designers are being pushed to provide better performance and more features, all while meeting tight deadlines and keeping costs down. As these demands grow, traditional design and verification methodologies are falling short.
  • Model-based design for wireless sensor networks
    While model-based design is becoming quite standard for several domains that have similar constraints as wireless sensor networks, there is a lack of tools for this purpose in the WSN world.
  • OPC and DCOM: Five things you need to know — Part 2
    In Part 1 of this article we explained the initial system-wide settings that are required for DCOM to operate correctly on a PC that is to run an OPC server. In Part 2 we will discuss the server-specific settings which will need to be configured for your specific OPC application.
  • OPC and DCOM: Five things you need to know — Part 1
    OPC technology relies on Microsoft’s COM and DCOM to exchange data between automation hardware and software; however, it can be frustrating for new users to configure DCOM properly. If you have ever been unable to establish an OPC connection or transfer OPC data successfully, the underlying issue is likely DCOM-related.
Product (31)
  • MathWorks Target Support Package and Embedded IDE Link for Eclipse
    The Target Support Package and Embedded IDE Link products now support the Eclipse integrated development environment (IDE) and Embedded Linux through the GNU compiler tool chain. As a result, engineers can automate project creation in Eclipse and deploy real-time embedded systems on Linux using automatically generated code from MATLAB and Simulink models. These capabilities enable engineers using model-based design to rapidly implement and verify algorithms on processors that can run Embedded Linux, such as ARM, Freescale and Intel.
  • IFS PBS 3.0 project-based solutions software
    IFS has launched its project-based solutions software, PBS 3.0, designed to give organisations greater visibility and control of their business-critical projects.
  • The MathWorks Simulink PLC Coder
    The MathWorks has announced Simulink PLC Coder, a product that generates IEC 61131 structured text for programmable logic controller (PLC) and programmable automation controller (PAC) devices. This advancement enables model-based design for manufacturing and power generation equipment controlled by PLCs and PACs.
  • MatLab and Simulink Release 2010a
    The MathWorks has announced Release 2010a (R2010a) of its MatLab and Simulink product families. Key in this release are streaming capabilities for signal processing and video processing in MatLab, nonlinear solvers for standard and large-scale optimisation and expanded Simulink support for large teams designing complex systems. R2010a also introduces Simulink PLC Coder, that helps industrial control system engineers generate IEC 61131 structured text. This release updates 83 other products, including PolySpace code verification products.
  • Intergraph SmartPlant 3D enterprise engineering design software
    Intergraph has released a version of SmartPlant 3D enterprise engineering design software that introduces capabilities for multiple 3D model referencing, enhanced model data re-use and laser scanning integration capabilities.
  • Invensys Operations Management Dynsim Checkout
    Invensys Operations Management has announced the availability of its SimSci-Esscor medium-fidelity simulation solution, Dynsim Checkout.
  • PID controller simulation
    The MathWorks has announced Simulink Control Design 3.0, equipped with features that automate the process of tuning proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers. These features are being released along with new PID controller blocks in Simulink.
  • Visualisation development software
    GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms has released DataViews 9.25, a set of graphic visualisation development tools for building custom applications. The new version includes features that enhance performance of display updates, support the use of scalable text in input object templates and allow the setting of background colour for scalable text objects.
  • Motion control development system
    National Instruments has announced NI VeriStand 2009, a configuration-based software environment for creating real-time testing applications such as hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and controlled environmental tests.
  • FPGA capabilities for distributed I/O
    National Instruments has announced new FPGA capabilities for the NI 9144 expansion chassis. By downloading the NI-Industrial Communications for EtherCAT 1.1 driver from ni.com, engineers and scientists can now run LabVIEW FPGA code directly on the NI 9144 chassis to execute custom triggering, inline processing and control within an application.
  • Model-based design for plants
    Autodesk has announced the availability of AutoCAD Plant 3D 2010, a software product designed to bring model-based design to mainstream plant design projects.
  • SCADA OEM software pack
    GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms has released OEM Solutions Pack for Proficy iFIX 5.0, the company’s HMI/SCADA software. The Solutions Pack is a compilation of pre-configured out-of-the-box graphic objects and screens specifically tailored to machine-level HMI/SCADA applications.
  • Virtualisation technology
    National Instruments' LabVIEW 2009 introduces Distributed Intelligence and Digital Prototyping for advanced control.
  • Machine programming software
    GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms has announced version 6 of its Proficy Machine Edition programming software. Proficy Machine Edition is a universal development environment for HMI, motion, and control applications that all share a single workspace and tool set.
  • Development platform
    National Instruments has announced LabVIEW 2009, a graphical system design software platform for control, test and embedded system development.
  • Process simulation software
    Invensys Operations Management has released the newest version of its SimSci-Esscor PRO/II software, a steady-state process simulator used to design, analyse and improve chemical processes. In addition to the numerous enhancements that address the emerging needs of the hydrocarbon and chemicals processing industries, this version is easier to use, faster and more flexible.
  • Simulation software
    Honeywell has announced two enhancements to its UniSim Design simulation software that provide engineers with a greater range of tools to build and test plant processes.
  • Modelling and simulation software
    The MathWorks has announced Release 2009a (R2009a) of its MATLAB, Simulink and PolySpace product families. R2009a includes extended support for multicore and multiprocessor systems, two new products, new features in MATLAB and Simulink, and enhancements to more than 90 other MathWorks products.
  • 3D printers
    XYZ Innovation is now offering Objet’s first multi-material 3D printer, the Connex500, as well as Objet’s desktop 3D printer, the Alaris30.
  • Heat transfer simulation software
    Invensys Process Systems has released the latest version of SimSci-Esscor’s Hextran software, a comprehensive heat transfer and pinch analysis tool. In addition to the numerous infrastructure upgrades and enhancements that address the emerging needs of clients seeking cost-effective and efficient heat transfer, Hextran 9.2 simulation software can now be used on Microsoft Vista Enterprise and Business operating systems. IPS has also created an updated install procedure and support for Microsoft Office 2007.
  • Drive design software
    The Positioning Drives software tool for all electrical drives from Festo enables fast, easy and reliable design and planning of motor and axis combinations in three simple steps.
  • Modelling language
    The MathWorks has announced the Simscape language, a new capability that enables textual authoring of physical modelling components, domains and libraries in the Simulink environment.
  • Development platform
    LabVIEW 8.6 expands on the built-in multithreading technology of the LabVIEW platform, offering higher performance through multicore-optimised features, which can help engineers process increasing amounts of measurement data to meet advanced control application challenges and increase test system throughput.
  • GUI development software
    The Industrial Automation Group of Advantech has released LogixView, a software package for developing graphical user interfaces for monitoring and controlling Advantech eAutomation products on WindowsCE-based devices.
  • Controller engineering software
    Rockwell Automation has released version 17 of its RSLogix 5000 engineering software, with significantly expanded process control and automation functionality for the Allen-Bradley Logix family of controllers.
  • Wireless developer’s kit
    Banner Engineering has announced the SureCross DX70 Wireless Developer’s Kit, consisting of a gateway and one node transceiver to enable on-site wireless testing. The ready-to-use, self-contained kit provides battery boxes with test buttons and indicator lights simulating inputs and outputs to determine an application’s specific range and response time requirements.
  • Robot programming GUI
    SmartGUI is the graphical user interface for Kuka robots. Robots only work on instruction and the SmartGUI system is designed to enable that instruction be straightforward and simple.
  • CAM software
    CNC Software has released Mastercam X3, offering expanded machining flexibility and an increased emphasis on speed and automation. Feature-based machining, 2D high-speed tool motion and faster toolpath generation combine with dozens of additional enhancements in a package intended to improve shop floor productivity.
  • Simulation and modelling software
    The MathWorks has introduced Release 2008b (R2008b) of its MATLAB and Simulink product families. R2008b includes new features in MATLAB and Simulink, two new products, 19 major updates, and enhancements to the PolySpace code verification products.
  • Discrete-event simulator
    The MathWorks has introduced SimEvents 2, which now supports the modelling of complex discrete-event and hybrid dynamic systems across the Simulink family of products.
  • Design software update
    With the release of Autodesk Inventor Service Pack 1, Autodesk Inventor software is fully supported on the Windows Vista operating system. Customers with Inventor 2008 and Windows Vista will enjoy the native support of the Microsoft Direct3D application programming interface, the underlying graphics technology for Windows Vista and all 64 bit Windows systems.
Case Study (1)
  • Toyota and Denso committed to model-based design
    Toyota and Denso have been using model-based design and automatic embedded code generation technology by The MathWorks for simulation, modelling and code generation products in their production software development programs
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