Industry 4.0 encompasses a vast array of technologies, depending on the application, such as factory automation and smart manufacturing. These technologies range from sensors and sensor fusion to compute power, AI algorithms and data-driven analytics. And it is always evolving to include technology and component advances to drive higher efficiencies and lower energy consumption.
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In the September/October issue, we’ll look at some of the latest technologies in Industry 4.0. One of those advances is software-defined factories.
One issue today is that manufacturing equipment hasn’t been designed to handle high levels of product variance, and at the same time, product quality has to be considered, especially in the Industry 4.0 era of predictive maintenance, said Alec Makdessian, director of marketing and business development for the high performance analog product line at NXP Semiconductors.
Makdessian believes the software-defined factory with reconfigurability, enhanced accuracy and precision, and advanced diagnostics can help achieve higher flexibility in the future smart factory. He addresses the benefits of measurement at the edge in modern factories where digitization is the trend and the analog world must be considered.
While predictive maintenance aims to optimize processes and machine uptime to increase production efficiency in smart factories, energy consumption (also driven by the need to improve manufacturing productivity while reducing environmental impact) is another big issue, and it starts at the component level.
Demand for more energy-efficient manufacturing is driving advances in a lot of component areas like processors, sensors and power management ICs, which are used in monitoring, collecting and analyzing data to determine the best optimization of production processes and reduction of energy consumption. These devices all play a role in improving productivity and meeting sustainability goals.
Sensor fusion with AI is also contributing to advances in smart manufacturing. “In the Industry 4.0 realm, sensor-based devices are constantly reshaping the industrial, automotive and robotics segments,” said Majeed Ahmad, editor-in-chief of EDN. “That includes industrial pressure transmitters, HVAC sensors, weight scales, factory automation devices and smart meters.”
Smart manufacturing began synergizing IoT, data-driven analytics and AI-powered technologies, Ahmad added. “If done effectively, that leads to process optimization, flexible production, shortened delivery time, manpower quality and enhanced efficiency.”
Also supporting the development of smart factories are power ICs. While playing a key role in overseeing distribution, conversion and regulation, these devices also play a major part in improved efficiency and reliability in a variety of industrial applications, contributing writer Stefano Lovati said. One of the key trends making gains is smart power management as factories become more data-driven and interconnected.
“To meet the rising demand for energy-efficient electronics, manufacturers of power ICs are focused on improving energy efficiency,” Lovati added. “This is achieved by increasing energy-conversion efficiency, decreasing power losses and facilitating more sustainable and environmentally friendly industrial operations.”
Industry 4.0 also calls for more advanced motor control. Using the right motor and motor control techniques is critical for maximizing performance and efficiency in industrial applications, Lovati said. He addresses the different motor types (including induction, synchronous, DC, stepper and servo), control strategies (open-loop and closed-loop) and motor control techniques like pulse-width modulation and field-oriented control.
Don’t miss the product roundup of inductors and transformers for automotive and industrial applications. These high-reliability devices have a unique set of requirements that include operating in harsh environments and over an extended temperature range while delivering high stability and long life. Many of the latest designs incorporate new techniques and materials that drive higher performance while also contributing to miniaturization, another key trend in these magnetic devices.
We also highlight the top 10 DC/DC converters for railway systems and industrial applications introduced over the past year. Key specs to consider include input/output voltage, electrical isolation, operating temperature, shock and vibration, and operational life. DC/DC converter manufacturers are focused on designing devices with wider input voltage ranges to cover a broader range of applications, extended mean time between failures, higher efficiency and smaller footprints.
For a deeper discussion about digitalization from Industry 4.0 experts, EP’s sister publications embedded.com, EE Times and EPSNews recently hosted an Industry 4.0 virtual panel, “Achieving Collaboration via Digitization.” These industry experts shared their experiences, which included collaboration with their partners; how data is shared, maintained, analyzed and protected; and technologies that improve connectivity and communications.
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