PC-based control for high-performance measurement technology
Beckhoff presents its PC- and EtherCAT-based automation solutions at
Sensor+Test 2011, the international trade fair for sensor systems and measuring/ testing technology.
Among other things, the focus will be on the use of TwinCAT 3 in scientific areas through the linking to Matlab®/Simulink®, the fast EtherCAT bus system for measurement applications and the new EtherCAT-based Scientific Automation terminals.
PC- and EtherCAT-based measuring and control technology
Scientific Automation: Measurement technology as a control component
High-performance multi-core Industrial PCs
from Beckhoff offer an optimum basis for the integration of measurement technology into automation software. High bandwidth and strong deterministics: EtherCAT makes high-precision measurements possible – with a time stamp also for correlation to other data. The Beckhoff EtherCAT Terminals digitise the measured variables close to the sensor and make special controllers and measuring cards redundant through seamless integration.
TwinCAT 3:
Real-time simulation with Matlab®/Simulink®
TwinCAT 3 extends the possibilities to relocate measuring functions from the black box into the PC, since programming is implemented in just one development environment. Linking to Matlab®/Simulink® and the integration of the high-level languages C/C++ make TwinCAT 3 suitable for the design and optimisation of controllers and filters. Measurement functions such as Condition Monitoring are realised in software. Due to the constantly increasing performance of Industrial PCs, there are no limits on the engineering algorithmic based thereon: TwinCAT 3 actively supports multi-core and
64-bit systems.
TwinCAT 3
High-precision measuring terminals
EtherCAT Terminals unite maximum perfor-
mance with maximum accuracy and make special modules redundant due to the seamless integration of the measurement technology in the automation solution. The low measuring error increases the signal acquisition quality, while the high resolution improves the control quality. New items are highprecision thermocouple and weighing terminals.
Grid monitoring and analysis
The energy monitoring range has been extended by a new power measure ment terminal. True rms values of all important variables such as voltage, current and power can be measured and monitored using the EL3413 EtherCAT power measurement terminal. Simple grid analyses up to the 21st harmonic analysis can be imple-
mented with the terminal.
EL3413
Solutions
Hall 11, Booth 127