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Demystifying ZigBee and its Application John Schwartz, Digi International, 8/1/2008
Wireless networks are becoming more ubiquitous and are implemented using a variety of protocols specifically designed for radio frequency systems. Some protocols that are in use are proprietary to individual vendors while others are industry standards, requiring varied amounts of system integration. There are differences between IEEE 802.15.4 and ZigBee, including.... More
NEMA publishes code for electrical metering; ZigBee for wireless smart metering 08/19/2008
NEMA’s latest electricity metering code establishes acceptable performance criteria for meters and devices for revenue metering. Daintree licenses Certicom security technology for a sensor network analyzer for testing, analysis, and commissioning of IEEE 802.15.4 and ZigBee wireless systems.
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Industrial Wireless Implementation Guide Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering - 08/01/2008
So you've dabbled in wireless or thought it might save time, effort, or dollars. This primer helps with technology selection; subsequent articles in this supplement and online at www.controleng.com reveal trends and implementations. Industrial wireless implementation isn't quite as easy as one might hear, with dozens of technologies from which to choose, application requirements, and standards and interoperability considerations.
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Better together? Ametek, Dresser-Rand, IntervalZero, Rexroth make acquisitions 08/15/2008
In separate transactions, Ametek Inc. agreed to acquire the programmable power business of Xantrex Technology Inc., Bosch Rexroth will purchase Hagglunds Drives AB, Dresser-Rand Group Inc. acquired certain assets of Peter Brotherhood Ltd., and IntervalZero buys Ardence embedded software from Citrix.
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Distributed controller has Profinet 08/01/2008
Simatic ET 200S IM151-8 PN/DP CPU module from Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. is a Profinet I/O controller, so the interface module supports the real-time properties known as RT (Real Time) and IRT (Isochronous Real Time), controlling up to 128 I/O devices. CPU is similar in power and performance to Siemens’ S7-300 line. The device has three ports for linear bus topologies and programming device functions. This was a Product Exclusive in the August 2008 Control Engineering North American edition.
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Ethernet communication tips Michael B. Roche, Schneider Electric - 08/01/2008
Details of Ethernet in an industrial environment can be hard to find, and resources specific to industrial Ethernet hard to come by. Users often overlook the possibility of using Ethernet to manage application response time for end devices. Ethernet switches and cabling can be easily installed by a user, interconnecting dozens or hundreds of devices, and eliminating many legacy fieldbus restrictions such as node counts and distances. Here are tips and specifics that can be useful.
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Source: Control.com, the global online discussion community for automation professionals.
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