Control Intelligence

In this episode of Control Intelligence, editor in chief Mike Bacidore spoke to Jagannathan Raghunathan, director of cyberphysical security services at Bureau Veritas, about the recent CISA alert.

Raghunathan is also co-chair of the PLC Security Top 20 List. In this interview, he outlines how the PLC Security Top 20 List addresses programmable logic controller (PLC) vulnerabilities by offering practical, engineering-focused guidance across the hardware lifecycle.

The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an alert on July 30 regarding a significant increase in cyber threat actors targeting programmable logic controllers (PLCs) in the water/wastewater sector.

In this episode of Control Intelligence, Control Design’s longest standing columnist, automation industry veteran Jeremy Pollard, spoke with Mike Bacidore about the vulnerabilities of PLCs; the evolution of their connectivity to the Internet; the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) and gateways; and what machine builders can learn from this to keep industrial equipment secure.

A terminal block is a place to connect a wire to another wire and create a junction point. Picture a terminal block as an intersection on a two-way or four-way highway.

In this episode of Control Intelligence, written by contributing editor Tobey Strauch, editor in chief Mike Bacidore discusses terminal blocks.

Hardware independence is what PC-based control promised back in the 1990s. You can run any software on any hardware you choose.

In this episode of Control Intelligence, written by contributing editor Jeremy Pollard, editor in chief Mike Bacidore compares the uses of PLCs and industrial PCs.

Factory OT uses wireless networks regularly to interface the physical world and the digital world. Transducers make this connection possible. A transducer is a component that converts one form of energy to another. Industrial controls capitalize on this device by utilizing the convenience of wireless in safety, remote and environmentally challenged environments.

In this episode of Control Intelligence, written by contributing editor Tobey Strauch, editor in chief Mike Bacidore explains the role of transducers in wireless networks.

Using vibrational analysis tools that can sense wear, imbalance, noise or harmonics can help identify machinery issues prior to failure. This allows for correcting those issues at a more convenient time, such as scheduled downtime, and avoid costly catastrophic failure.

In this episode of Control Intelligence, editor in chief Mike Bacidore shares how variable-frequency drives can be used for physical-asset condition monitoring.

Sometimes motors can run at 175% of their rated load continuously, but the conditions should be specified within boundaries of the system. When we talk about running a motor at 175% continuously, it means the expected current load or the torque will be at roughly 175% of its rated full load Amps.

In this episode of Control Intelligence, written by contributing editor Tobey Strauch, Mike Bacidore explains when a motor should be allowed to run in an overload condition.

Beckhoff’s XTS linear transport system, No Cable Technology and EcoLine motor modules are part of the Beckhoff mechatronics portfolio, which is under the supervision of Jeff Johnson, mechatronics product manager at Beckhoff USA.

In this episode of Control Intelligence, Mike Bacidore is rejoined by Dr. Brian Romano, director of technology development at Arthur G. Russell Company.

With more than four decades of experience in industrial automation and control systems engineering, Romano's career has centered around innovation, leadership and a forward-looking commitment to advanced technology in manufacturing. His work includes control systems architecture, enterprise connectivity, digital transformation and predictive analytics, even combining them to offer production-as-a-service capabilities by leveraging remote monitoring capabilities.
Beyond his industry leadership, Romano brings a passion for developing the next generation of engineers, serving as adjunct faculty at both Central Connecticut State University and the University of Hartford. His academic achievements, including a Ph.D. in Technology and Innovation, an MBA in Business and Data Analytics, and multiple national honor societies, complement his work as an entrepreneur, a published researcher and the 2022 Division Leader of Year with the International Society of Automation. He is also an ISA fellow.

Machine vision has long been used in factory automation for quality inspections, the final checkpoint separating acceptable parts from the rework pile or the scrap bin. Today, vision systems are no longer just inspectors. They are becoming adaptive, data-driven participants in the manufacturing process, capable of influencing outcomes rather than simply recording them.

In this episode of Control Intelligence, written by contributing editor Joey Stubbs, editor in chief Mike Bacidore discusses how artificial intelligence has impacted the reliability and accuracy of vision systems.