Applied Technology Review : News

The world is inescapably dependent on the sea yet, we know very less about it, and ocean observation systems broaden their knowledge about the ocean touching the shores. The study and understanding of oceans is quite essential for the shipping industry. The data extracted from the oceans help predict the weather and sea conditions, which is crucial for ships in planning courses and taking the needed precautions. Furthermore, the ocean observation system also helps to understand ocean pollution, climate changes, untapped resources, changes in the currents, the behavior of marine organisms, and so on. Here are three technologies that are used to understand and study the oceans around the world. [vendor_logo_first] High-Frequency Radars   HFR measures the speed and the direction of ocean surface currents from a few kilometers to 200 km offshore near the coast. It also aids in detecting the objects floating on the sea surface and therefore is highly useful in search and rescue operations. The radar transmitter passes a signal out to the sea, and the conductive seawater surface returns a signal, measuring the Doppler shift and providing velocity and direction. This weatherproof device can produce a current field in every 15 minutes. Traditionally, the current measuring devices are directly put into the water by the ship’s crew member to extract current speeds.  Drifters   Using this device, oceanographers can study the global ocean currents and their effects. With the recent advancements, drifters’ offers ocean circulation patterns quickly. The “shallow water” drifter can be placed from a ship or an airplane. Once it is floated, the transmitter starts sending data to the satellite, which further transmits it to the receiving stations where the data is processed. Other  sensors  for surface temperature, ocean color, wind, pressure, and salinity may also be kept in the device to get more data from the sea. Animal Telemetry  Animal Telemetry entails marine animals to carry electronic tags. This tagging technology allows enterprises to know how these animals interact with the ocean. This knowledge is beneficial to understand the ocean and the challenges of climate change and marine environmental pollution. This device has been utilized since 1990 on sharks, seals, sea turtles, whales. Sensors track the animals and gather valuable data from the most unreachable areas in the ocean where conventional oceanographic sensing methods are economically or technically unfeasible. ...Read more

Companies that use digital twins can reap significant benefits such as improved operations, product and service innovation, and faster time-to-market. A digital twin is a virtual model that mimics the behavior of a physical object or process throughout its lifecycle. This technology allows you to remotely monitor and control equipment and systems by providing a near real-time bridge between the physical and digital worlds. Finally, it can run simulation models to test and forecast assets and process changes under various "what-if" scenarios. Creating a Digital Twin Necessitates Several Steps, Including: •  Sensors that record the operational behaviors of assets and processes (vibration, temperature, pressure, etc.) and their operating environments (air temperature, humidity, etc.) •  Communications networks that transfer data from physical devices to the digital world securely and dependably. •  A digital platform that acts as a modern data repository, gathering and storing shop floor sensor data alongside high-level business data (e.g., MES, ERP). By combining these data sources, actionable insights for data-driven decision-making can be derived – using advanced AI/machine learning algorithms. 3 Digital Twin Applications for Industry 4.0 Digital twin technology provides unprecedented visibility into assets and production, allowing for identifying bottlenecks, streamlining operations, and developing innovative products. The three major applications of digital twins for Industry 4.0 are listed below. Predictive Maintenance:  Spare part maintenance and replenishment can be planned to reduce time-to-service and avoid costly asset failures. Predictive maintenance using Digital Twins can provide OEMs with a new service-based revenue stream while improving product reliability. Process Planning and Optimization:  A digital footprint ingesting sensor and ERP data from a manufacturing line can greatly analyze important KPIs such as production rates and scrap counts. This aids in determining the root cause of any inefficiencies and throughput losses, optimizing yields, and reducing waste. Product Design and Virtual Prototyping:  Virtual models of in-use products provide detailed insights into usage patterns, degradation points, workload capacity, defects, etc. Designers and developers can correctly evaluate product usability and reliability by better understanding a product's characteristics and failure modes. The best way to start a Digital Twins initiative is to identify the asset(s) and processes with the greatest potential for value creation and then start with a pilot implementation. A digital twin should be a work-in-progress that evolves and scales in real-time as your IT capacity grows and matures. Digital twins of different components are typically interconnected to form a large, composite twin of a highly complex machine or process. ...Read more

SCADA systems are critical for industrial businesses because they help to maintain efficiency, process data to make better decisions, and notify system faults to save downtime. SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is a type of process control system architecture that uses computers, networked data transfers, and graphical Human Machine Interfaces to provide high-level process supervisory management and control (HMIs). SCADA systems interact with other devices such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and PID controllers to link with industrial process facilities and equipment. SCADA systems can be controlled virtually, allowing the operator to keep an eye on the entire process from the comfort of their office or control room. Time can be saved by successfully deploying SCADA. As an excellent example, SCADA systems are widely used in the Oil and Gas industry. Large pipelines will convey oil and chemicals within the manufacturing facility. As a result, safety is critical, as no leaks should occur along the pipeline. A SCADA system is used to locate the source of a leak if one arises. It calculates the data, delivers it to the system, displays it on the computer screen, and alerts the operator. Generic SCADA systems involve both hardware and software components. Why is SCADA system needed? A SCADA system is a collection of hardware and software that allows manufacturing units to perform specific tasks. SCADA systems govern and monitor physical processes such as power transmission, gas and oil transit in pipelines, water distribution, traffic lights, and other systems that support contemporary society. Because their compromise or destruction would have far-reaching implications in areas of society unconnected to the original breach, the security of these SCA DA systems is crucial. For example, a blackout caused by a broken electrical SCA DA system would result in financial losses for all users who used that source of electricity. Instead of forcing modern-day SCADA systems out, priorities like flexibility and data-driven decision-making are re-imagining their role. Since integration is the way of the future, SCADA systems will continue to exist. ...Read more