On Graphics and Indication in Unit Control

Fundamentally an operator interacts with an equipment based automation control system by means of a touch panel, push-buttons, panel alarms, lights, hooters and at least one key graphic display.

Today I am in the Worthing, UK, home of Invensys Eurotherm and had an opportunity to talk with some of the Senior Engineers and think about the life of an plant operator and the use of these devices. As a result I decided to focus this post on three aspects:-

• Hands-Free Indication
• Primary Panel Graphics
• State of Play Indication

All three aspects need to be taken into consideration in the implementation of packaged control solutions.

Postcard from Shanghai

  


Xin Nian Kuai Le ! - Happy New Year ! - From Shanghai

 Dear blog readers,

This week I was fortunate to spend some time with my 'lao pengyou' old friends at the Invensys Facility in Shanghai.

Our Electric Power SCADA RTU product, the SCD5200 / RTU50 is manufactured at the Invensys - Shanghai Foxboro Company Ltd., and it was timely to visit there this week. That is just prior to the 10 day spring festival which starts with Chinese New Year. Much of the Foxboro product is manufactured in Shanghai and has been for the past 40 years or so.  Times have changed, and the factory has recently moved out to the new facility at Feng Pu industrial park, Feng Xian south of Shanghai. There is still a photo of President Reagan opening the original facility in Cao Bao Lu when China first started opening up to the west.

This coming Year of the Dragon promises to be an exciting time for China, and for Invensys as well. Many of the Nuclear Power projects in China will be using our Invensys Systems technology and Nuclear expertise. If you would like to read more on this topic  refer : Invensys Wins Nuclear Project in China.

Thanks so much to the team in Invensys Shanghai for making me feel so welcome ! 

Best Regards

Chris Smith
[Shanghai, China]
The photo of me was taken by one of my esteemed colleagues at one of the new shopping centres in XuJiaHui, Shanghai



The ART of the TABLET GESTURE

I just can't wait for the day that I am strapped ultra fast into my sports tourer, and driving with a dashboard of touch screens in front of me.  I like to use both hands sometimes, but lets assume I can drive with one hand. No ! - one finger using the latest Touch technology of gestures.  No steering wheel or foot pedals, just a touch screen. Bit frightening perhaps... but definitely possible.

Visual Layout Aspects of Remote Control Consoles

I've watched 'Pearl Harbour'..


I've experienced 'Das Boot'..


.. a great 80's movie about the sinking of a U Boat.  These films capture the emotion of men of action under pressure.  Under pressure, the sub's captain on the bridge and engine people have to make some hard decisions fast about how to maneuver the submarine and stay out of trouble. This post takes a look at the control panel layout in the maneuver room, and picks out some of the salient features for taking ACTION under PRESSURE.

Invensys SCADA Blog Calendar 2012

Dear readers,

Summer has arrived here in Sydney, finally, after all  the fireworks on New Years's Eve, and now we have  the Sydney Festival starting this weekend.




Just to keep everyone posted, so to speak,  I put together today a short calendar for the year 2012....