Tech Briefs brings the latest technical news from NASA, the military, federal laboratories, universities, and commercial companies to automation designers and engineers.

Topics: groov, Internet of Things, IoT, New products, Awards and recognition, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, EPIC

If you'd like to see the new groov EPIC system in action—or talk with us about any automation project—here are two opportunities coming up soon.

Topics: Process control, Discrete control, groov, Events & conferences, Integrators, EPIC

The 22nd Annual ARC Industry Forum in Orlando this February focused on digitizing and securing industry and infrastructure. 

Topics: groov, Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, IoT, PACs, New products, Events & conferences, API, REST API, REST, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Node-RED, Data acquisition, Ignition Edge, EPIC

Opto 22's groov EPIC^® system starts shipping on May 18.

You can start ordering now!

Pre-orders will ship first, and based on early feedback from several EPIC Roadshows, this new system will be in high demand. Customers are excited about the built-in features of groov EPIC, not only for IIoT applications but for all automation and data acquisition applications.

Here are just a few of these features:

Topics: Process control, Discrete control, groov, Internet of Things, PLCs, Remote monitoring, IoT, Machine builder, New products, Integrators, I/O, PAC Control, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Node-RED, Data acquisition, MQTT, Ignition Edge, EPIC

Just released! groov View R3.5a brings a new feature you've been waiting for: you can now connect to SNAP PAC I/O units directly, instead of going through a controller strategy, and use their tags in your groov View operator interface.  

In addition, the new release has been optimized to improve performance and responsiveness, especially when you have a large number of users. 

And all updates to your groov View interface are now automatically pushed out to users. No need to refresh screens.

Here's a closer look at these and other new features. (For details on bug fixes, see the groov View Readme.) 

Topics: groov, Updates, I/O

If you ship Opto 22 products (or products containing Opto 22 parts) to countries within the European Union, you need to know about our changes to the Declarations of Conformity required for shipments.

We've recently heard about possible problems with shipments of industrial hardware to the European Union. EU Customs officials are more stringently enforcing requirements for Declarations of Conformity (DoCs) documents on these shipments.

To prevent delays in Customs, we recommend you use the new CE DoCs we have created for shipments to EU countries.

Topics: Machine builder, OEM, Integrators, compliance

In part 1 we met two communication models for computers on a network: request-response and publish-subscribe. Now let's take a look at when you might want to use each, and why.

Request-response: proven and reliable

In a request-response architecture, each client opens a direct connection to each server, because the client requests data directly from the server.

In automation, typically clients are PCs and servers are PLCs or PACs. So each PC opens a direct connection to each PLC or PAC from which it needs data. 

Topics: groov, Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, IoT, Machine builder, OEM, Integrators, Networking, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Data acquisition, MQTT, Ignition Edge, EPIC

You've been asking for more details about our brand-new groov EPIC^® system for the IIoT and automation, and here they are! 

We just published a part numbers list and the first several data sheets, with preliminary descriptions, specs, wiring diagrams, and dimensions. So take a look and start planning the system you want. 

Topics: Process control, Discrete control, groov, Internet of Things, PLCs, Remote monitoring, IoT, Machine builder, PACs, OEM, New products, Integrators, I/O, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Data acquisition, EPIC

When we announce a new product, we want you—our loyal customers and OptoBlog readers—to be the first to hear about it. 

And this isn't just one product. This is EPIC: the world's first Edge Programmable Industrial Control system—a brand-new I/O and control system built for the future of automation and designed for the way you work.

Topics: Energy management, Process control, Food & beverage, Discrete control, groov, Internet of Things, PLCs, Remote monitoring, Water & wastewater, IoT, Machine builder, PACs, OEM, New products, Integrators, I/O, PAC Project, Building management, Oil & gas, PAC Control, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Node-RED, Data acquisition, MQTT, Ignition Edge, EPIC

We all know that computers and other electronic devices—printers, routers, laptops, smartphones, and more—are networked so they can exchange information.

But how does that information get where it’s supposed to go?

How does a spreadsheet get to the printer, a YouTube video get to your smartphone, or—most important for automation engineers—a value from a sensor get to your HMI?

Topics: groov, Internet of Things, IoT, Networking, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Data acquisition, MQTT