Applied Sciences Group, Inc.


Operator Interface, Data Acquisition and Control Print
Operator Interface Units (OIU) and Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) exist to efficiently link a human operator to a machine. SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems are used to acquire and archive key process variables, as well as to monitor and alert operators to process trends that are going out of tolerance on a complex machine, process or production line.

Applied Sciences Group has expertise in every aspect of OIU, HMI and SCADA system design and development. Our engineering staff has the programming and systems integration skills required to implement customized systems for virtually every industrial application.

Applied Sciences Group develops operator interfaces with operator efficiency and ergonomics in mind. Timeline and customer permitting, we discuss operator interface design requirements with the end user to make sure the operator's input is applied to the overall look and feel of the visual interface, the display.

Operator interfaces are developed based on the end user's needs, the machine's operational complexity, and budget:

  • Electromechanical panels with push buttons and indicator lights are used for the simplest systems.
  • Control panels containing small terminals, multi-line or graphical LCD displays are developed for those operations requiring simple choices or a few data values to be displayed, such as current status or an operation setpoint.
  • PC-based SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) systems utilizing a full complement of development and display tools are used to fully manage and report on a complex machine, process or production line.
    • Software Development Tools
    There are several SCADA software packages that are commonly used in industry. And while the programming of one maybe very similar to that of another, there are intricacies of each that ASG has learned through our broad background of experience.

    The most common packages we are adept at working with are:

  • GE's iFIX and FIX32, and Cimplicity
  • Wonderware's Factory Suite
  • Allen-Bradley's RSView
  • National Instrument's LabVIEW
    • And when it comes to HMI development, Applied Sciences Group is vendor agnostic. We will develop an HMI using the customer's preferred package, or will offer a recommendation upon request.

    Report Generation and Data Archiving
    Applied Sciences Group has also developed considerable expertise with third party report generation, data archiving and user interface tools that enhance the productivity of standard SCADA systems, including:

  • Crystal Reports
  • XL Reporter
  • Proficy Real-time Information Portal(InfoAgent)
  • Microsoft Office Tools (Excel, Access)
  • SQL Server
    • Device Driver Development
    During most factory automation projects, there is usually at least one peripheral device that cannot communicate out-of-the-box with the selected SCADA package. Applied Sciences Group is particularly adept at developing hardware specific device drivers because our staff includes engineers proficient at C++, C, Visual Basic and Assembler languages.

    Design Strategy
    Applied Sciences Group never develops operator interfaces independent of the machine or process; each must be designed with the other in mind. We provide critical evaluation and analysis throughout every aspect of system implementation in order to guarantee that the interface cleanly mates to the process and simultaneously makes the operator's job a little easier. Effective operator interfaces can not be designed in a vacuum.

    We invite you to review our OIU - HMI - SCADA case studies listed to the right, and would welcome the opportunity to work with you to define your requirements, provide a proposal for achieving your objectives, and then put our expertise to work for you.
     
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