What do you get with the free PAC Project Basic automation software suite? 

PAC Project Basic offers flowchart-based control programming plus HMI development and runtime. It's suited for industrial automation, remote monitoring, and data acquisition applications in any field.

Topics: Process control, Discrete control, Remote monitoring, Machine builder, optonews, PACs, PAC Project, OptoNews 2016-03-02

Curious about the technology for the Internet of Things (IoT)? Interested in developing products or solutions for the IoT?

Then don't miss the Open IoT Summit next month in San Diego. 

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, optonews, OEM, Events & conferences, Integrators, OptoNews 2016-03-02

If you're someone who likes to save time, you probably already know about keyboard shortcuts like CTRL+S to save or CTRL+F to find. But do you know about the shortcuts in PAC Control? Here are a few that can speed your programming.

Topics: Tips, optonews, PACs, PAC Project, OptoNews 2016-03-02

In 2012, explorer and filmmaker James Cameron did what no one had ever done before. 

He piloted a one-man submersible to Challenger Deep at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the lowest spot on earth, 6.8 miles (10.9 km) below sea level.

Topics: Videos, optonews, Deepsea Challenge, PACs, PAC Project, OptoNews 2016-02-17

In my last blog post I talked about the TCP/IP model and why you should care about it. In a phrase: the Internet of Things (IoT). 

With all the recent attention around the IoT, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and Industry 4.0, I’m sure you’re starting to realize that networking, Internet communication, and network security are going to be important in your job as an automation professional.

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, Networking

OptoPartner Hy-Line Systems GmbH invites you to Embedded World 2016 in Nürnberg, Germany, next week from 23-25 February. 

Embedded World brings together everything for embedded systems, from ASIC and FPGA design to programming to wireless, this year with an emphasis on the Internet of Things and security for embedded systems. 

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, Machine builder, optonews, OEM, Events & conferences, OptoNews 2016-02-17

When you're troubleshooting a network communications problem, it's often best to start from the bottom and work up. 

Opto 22 engineer Matt Newton shows you how in his recent blog post about the TCP/IP Model:­ Troubleshooting the Link Layer. 

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, optonews, Networking, OptoNews 2016-02-17

You already know that groov is the simple way to build your own mobile operator interface—your own mobile app—so you can securely monitor and control your systems and equipment from a smartphone or tablet.

With groov it really is easy to build your interface and control who can use it.

But there's one part that can be more complicated: setting up your network so you can access the data you need while maintaining security for your systems. 

Topics: groov, Remote monitoring, Machine builder, optonews, OEM, Integrators, Networking, Building management, OptoNews 2016-02-17

As "green" power production from sun and wind increases, electrical grids can find themselves with a big problem: too much electricity at once. 

Solar and wind power generation work when the sun shines and the wind blows. But those hours are not necessarily when electrical demand is highest. 

Topics: Energy management, Case studies, Videos, groov, Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, IoT, optonews, Integrators, OptoNews 2016-02-03

You've been hearing about the Internet of Things (IoT), also called Industry 4.0, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), or machine-to-machine (M2M).  

This new, free IoT Primer helps you understand how the IoT will affect your job and your life.

Topics: groov, Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, IoT, optonews, Integrators, OptoNews 2016-02-03