IEN (Industrial Equipment News) is the leading resource for industrial professionals, providing product technology, trends and solutions impacting the industrial market. IEN reaches manufacturers, designers, distributors & supply chain professionals.
Issue link: http://ien.epubxp.com/i/706116
IEN / AUGUST '16 33 www.ien.com Today's Designer Parker also introduced an extremely sensitive (0.026% strain), unique and conformable sensor that can be used in any application that expands and contracts. The sensors (pic- tured above) are encapsulated in a silicone elastomer, so they can withstand operation in harsh environments, and they remain accurate, even up to 100% strain. During a live demonstration (taking place at a remote location), Parker showed how the high-strain sen- sor monitored flexible pipe joints in an accelerated life test as an alternative to traditional, inspection-based monitoring and just-in-case replacement programs. 2. Augmented Reality Machine Monitoring In the very near future, machine maintenance could mean little more than scanning equip- ment on the shop floor while you're wearing a pair of Google Glasses or Gear VR from Ocu- lus. Product design and development firm Cratus Technology recently partnered with Fujitsu Components to develop new products for the IIoT market. The thought was that Fujitsu could use its expertise in wireless module technology and Cratus could put the technology to work in a specialized sensing solution. At Sensors 2016, the partnership displayed an augmented reality (AR) solution for mainte- nance, repair, and operations (MRO) machine monitoring. Built on the BlueBrain Sensor Fu- sion Platform, which Cratus developed to help OEMs fast track IIoT solutions, the MRO AR demonstration read temperature sensor and accelerometer data to provide real-time data visualization on the user's screen. Essentially, users will be able to walk up to a machine, and the glasses will display a graphic that shows the machine's performance. "Augmented systems for MRO is becoming feasible," said Bruce DeVisser, Fujitsu Prod- uct Marketing Manager. "These are IIoT solutions for people who have never done it before. Companies that don't have control engineers." According to DeVisser, the AR solution will be most useful when it interacts with tech sup- port and the informational database that support the equipment in order to provide real-time maintenance recommendations. 3. Battery-Powered Cellular Gateway Solution No power? No problem. At least that was the story when Digi International introduced the Digi Connect Sensor, a battery-powered, enterprise-ready, cellular gateway solution for wireless connectivity at locations that have little to no power. According to Brent Nelson, Senior Product Manager of Cellular Products at Digi Inter- national, it's an ideal solution for industrial process control solutions as well as oil and gas applications – particularly as the latter industry works to reduce operational expenses. With a battery life of about two years (with two transmissions per day), the gateway can accept up to four analog inputs and one digital I/O, and it allows users to view the informa - tion remotely via the Device Cloud. It uses Bluetooth if the technician is on site. According to Nelson, the gateway was under development for nine months, and En - dress+Hauser is already using the solution for tank-level sensors in the field. For more highlights from Sensors Expo 2016, including a plug-in that turns your smart - phone into a thermal imaging camera and a sensor that mimics the human eye, visit www. ien.com/sensors-2016. SUBSCRIBE TO AT WWW.IEN.COM/SUBSCRIBE