Evolution - Revolution - Techno Modernization Solution

A Technical Evolution [1]

In this series of blog posts, I intend to make some searchable notes on the evolution of control systems hardware.  I say the word evolution carefully here.  What I can see however is that regardless of availability of key technical components, certain evolved arrangements of technology create a requirement for their own continuation. I will be exploring a number of features of this kind of evolution.

Evolution of SCADA Technologies - 1

C25 Remote Terminal Unit

There is nothing quite like working for a controls automation and engineering company for bringing high social-wc3-tech warriors down to earth. Probably uppermost in a controls product manager's mind is the support of long term useful plugged in technology. The automation that manages the control of plant and infrastructure is very static, and I have to say, totally anti-social.  Yes, believe it or not, social networking is NOT required to enable control systems to work.

The photo shows a single board Remote Terminal Unit, originally created in the 1980s using VME bus technology.  This was called the C25.  Although the C25 is now classed as obsolete, there are still many of these in operation on critical infrastructure throughout the world.  These days we replace these older remotes with the newer modular Foxboro RTU technologies.  The fit is close.. but not exact.  Features of the older technology which tend to change are the:-

• Wiring connectors - Older terminations
• Communications - instead of using Bell 202 we might use TCP/IP
• Protocol - instead of using Conitel - we might use DNP3
• User Programs - now here is the real challenge - these were generally built in older languages - early derivatives of BASIC or C programming - these days we might transition these to SALL programming with it's more protected logic code. IEC 1131 standard programming might also be required. 

Many of the components on these boards are difficult to find.  Repairing them is a challenge.  We tend to create newer technologies which try to extend the role and function of the older technologies, with a minimal installation cost.  I decided to read the book by Kevin Kelley - "What Technology Wants".  I believe that there is something about the use of these technologies, which have to remain in place without moving, without disconnecting, and without modification for over 30 years, which has to be explained.  I will be doing more posts on this topic as I embark on my travels in the next month or so.

A WEARABLE CONE of SILENCE

A non wearable Cone of Silence

So eventually viewers/followers, I the younger got my 'string can telephone' and out of frustration with it's application in the thick scrubby bush, I gave it all the toss.  Since real telephones had already been invented, why bother with a tangled string holding two can's together?

Vacating the Bloggosphere - Quel Surprise !

Lovers Lock Bridge - Paris

I highly recommend 'dive bombing into the river of the non-bloggosphere now and then.  Imagine the bloggosphere is the sky that we breathe and look at each day.  Yes, each day we get up and breathe in twitter, facebook, blogger, wordpress, etc.. for a variety of worldly reasons.  Imagine a day comes when you just don't do that.

X-CHANGING INFORMATION and COLLABORATION EVENTS

Laser Lights, Music, Fireworks - make the event come alive

I feel somewhat inspired to write, having been away so long, about something totally different.  I've spent some weeks now away from the usual thought processes on technology, and now have been involved in an X-Change event in South Africa, a holiday vacation in Paris, and a sales kick-off for the North American region.  All these things are the normal aspects of life for product managers in our company.  Apart from the gruelling nature of fighting over budgets each year, we, as product managers, then go on the road, usually in April May to try to explain strategy and product direction to the people who have to take the products to market.

Still - not sure how much to say about either event, except that both were in my view very well done and very enthusiastically received by their audience.  X-Change was held at Sun City, and the NA Sales Kickoff in Orlando.  Both these hyper-real worlds just happen to have a great location, great views, big meeting spaces and are really perfect for these kind of events, with around 400 or so participants.

Of course we are used to the now common fact that mostly we all know each other, and we see each other every year.  I struggle to remember names associated with faces, particularly since I meet most around once per year.  We are a team though and I probably am copied on, and copy most of my colleagues and friends on one at least of the thousands of emails written and maybe trashed throughout the year.  Others must have a tough time too, which is why we all wear nametags in big print 'round our necks.

Invensys is a large company, but what makes the company is it's collection of people who work through issues and create a kind of cameraderie.  Remember we all came from differently branded and typed companies long back, and through a process of amalgamation and cost reduction over time, have merged into a great company with a great future.  All the while retaining the key brands of products which go to form the portfolio of solutions we need for our customers in the market.

A gladly meet the press and pr people who turn up at these events, and who ask me when I am going to write the new new article of the thing we need to talk about... remember ?

I gladly meet the account managers which have struggled to handle customers, for which things have or have not worked out so well. I am surprised and sometimes really happy that people in far flung countries have managed to solve and resolve issues with the minimal help, that I or anyone could provide.

It's not all discussion at these events.  A big part of the psychology of the events is the entertainment mixed with the educational and directive content we provide.  In some cases there are fireworks and dancing girls, and in others a band playing with live karaoke.  Entertainment involving dancing music and fire seems to date back to the stone age, and carries on today.

You know, even from way back people used to say, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, but I believe that these events do have a lasting effect on the ability and nature of collaboration throughout the year.

So now I am back in my home office far from the people and the fireworks.  I made a lot of new friends and relationships and hope I didn't burn too many or say too many tough things for people [which happens at times].