ICC 2021 Discover Gallery finalist, Perceptive Controls, talks about their continued success with the Waterford, MI Department of Public Works

In February of this year, we looked at a pioneering MQTT Sparkplug project at the Department of Public Works in Waterford Township, Michigan. Thanks to the work of system integrator Perceptive Controls, Waterford’s project went on to become a finalist in the 2021 Ignition Community Conference Discover Gallery and was showcased in the latest Sparkplug Working Group virtual meetup. Recently, I followed up with Kevin Finkler, software engineer at Perceptive, to talk about using MQTT in the real world.

Sharpen your drawing tools. It's time to go to work.

Visualization for industrial automation is bigger than it’s ever been, and it’s not just about control anymore. As it becomes increasingly important to turn data into information efficiently and ubiquitously, visualization platforms deal with more data types, presentation formats, and a broader range of users and use cases. As always, Opto 22 gives you many tools so you can choose what fits your project best. Let’s take a look at some of those options.

Which is right for you?

In this series, I’ve been talking about the strengths of CODESYS for control programming on the groov EPIC platform, but it’s not your only option. You can use CODESYS, Opto 22’s flowchart-based PAC Control, or custom applications built using secure shell access (SSH). Whether you’re a CODESYS developer building projects on groov EPIC or still deciding which programming approach to take, it’s worth understanding how and when each tool might be right for you. This post compares CODESYS and PAC Control head to head to help you decide which approach to take for your project.

Interested in giving CODESYS a try? Here are a few fantastic reasons why you should...

Looking for a solid ladder logic programming environment that doesn’t lock you into a particular vendor? CODESYS provides that and more. With a familiar but powerful set of tools, not only can you use IEC 61131-3 languages like ladder, but you’ll also enjoy code that is open, structured, customizable, and portable.

How good is CODESYS on groov EPIC? Really, really good...

If you’re a long-time CODESYS user, Opto 22 may not have come across your radar before. Here are a few big reasons why you might want to take a look at Opto 22’s groov EPIC edge programmable industrial controller and consider making it your go-to IEC 61131-3 development platform.

Turbine control experts execute fast, cost-effective retrofit of a failing control system

RDI Controls provides fully engineered retrofit packages for industrial and aeroderivative turbine control systems. It has carried out over 160 retrofit and design projects on a variety of turbines from brands like GE, Westinghouse, Pratt-Whitney, and Rolls Royce using control systems from Allen-Bradley, ABB/Bailey, and Westinghouse/Emerson. But Opto 22 is RDI's supplier of choice, and this new case study explains why.

Rapid prototyping for simple (and delicious) connected control

What does it take to turn a hobby into a business? For one barbecue enthusiast, Dave Counts of Automated Concepts, Inc. (ACI) proposed using Opto 22’s groov RIO. He thought the multifunction I/O and simple Node-RED programming would provide a lot of flexibility to help his customer design a prototype barbecue control system.

Oil & Gas OEM uses integrated data and control to deliver reliable automated pressure testing

Engenuity, Inc. provides control automation and data integration solutions across several industries, with a primary focus on advanced technologies for oil & gas. You've probably seen their OptoPartner profile featured here before.

In a new case study, we dig into the details of how they use groov EPIC to design an automated solution that cuts the cost of validated pressure testing at remote well sites.

New plant uses unique edge architecture to run at the pace of modern business

With demand for hand sanitizer more than doubling across the US, and continuing annual growth of more than 20% expected in coming years, 2020 presented the cleaning industry with a big financial opportunity. Emerald 66 Enterprises (E66) mobilized resources to meet this need, setting up shop in an empty denim processing plant in Seminole, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

groov RIO enables affordable equipment-as-a-service designs that are easy to deploy

Download case study pdf

Equipment-as-a-service (EaaS) involves renting out or providing access to equipment and collecting payment periodically, rather than selling the equipment outright. This payment model enables end users to pay for costly or infrequently used equipment as an ongoing operating expense, which can open new markets for machine builders.