2024-04-28 22:00:52
Touch control concepts have not only revolutionized communication between people, they have also fundamentally changed communication between people and machines. In the past, control panels with permanently installed controls were largely used to control machines. The machines were operated using fixed buttons, switches, etc. as well as analog display elements or a maximum of 7-segment displays. All in all, the operating devices were perfectly tailored to the machines to be operated, but were also inflexible – if changes had to be made to the machine – and, due to their size, were usually attached to the machine in a stationary manner and were therefore tied to one location. As a rule, exactly one machine could be operated with one operating device. Analogous to the consumer environment, communication between humans and machines has fundamentally changed due to the emergence of touch-based operating devices. Not only has the number of possible applications been increased, the requirements for a modern HMI have also changed significantly.
Requirements for modern HMIs
Modern HMIs must be mobile and wireless. They must also be able to be used flexibly, ideally on several different machines. For this purpose, it makes sense that the HMI has a modular structure and can be adapted quickly and efficiently to different machines and areas of application. Furthermore, usability is the focus of a touch-based HMI. The user needs a device that is intuitive to use and that he can use just as easily and logically as he is used to using his smartphone or tablet in everyday life. This also means that he can use similar features as he knows from the consumer environment. Another central issue when using operating devices in industry and integrating the systems into networks is data security. Modern HMIs have to meet far higher security requirements than, for example, consumer devices. Last but not least, in order to be used for many applications in the industrial environment, modern, touch-based HMIs still require safety elements such as emergency stop and enabling buttons.
In order to meet the requirements of a modern and mobile HMI of the future, ACD Elektronik has developed a completely new, modular family of mobile operating devices including a secure data transmission system. The M2Smart HMI10 as a 10 inch device in tablet form factor and the M2Smart HMI5 as a 5 inch device in smartphone form factor. With the HMI from ACD Elektronik, the safety data is transmitted in a functionally safe manner via the black channel process over a radio link between the HMI and a gateway, which is also available in two versions. The gateway, in turn, is connected to a secure controller, thus ensuring data security here too. The system is completed by an optional WiFi access point, which can also be used to securely cover the second radio link between the gateway and access point. The devices and the gateway are linked using simple RFID pairings and then the mobile HMI panel, including the emergency stop and/or enabling buttons in the device, is ready for use. Thanks to a modern two-processor architecture, safety levels up to PLd can be achieved.
The M2Smart HMI devices consist of a basic device with touch operation plus interchangeable modules such as handwheels, function keys, etc. The lack of a cable makes the devices flexible and usable for a variety of applications. for a variety of possible applications. The number of possible areas of application is also increased by the modular design and the use of web visualizations, which can be accessed depending on the location and application.
Furthermore, the HMI devices can also be used as an employee’s personal device. Each employee has their own device with which they can operate all machines. He can also configure and set up the HMI individually according to his specific preferences. The mobile devices are designed so that they fit comfortably in the hand and, especially with the heavier 10-inch version, the weight rests on the forearm rather than on the wrist. When developing the devices, care was taken to ensure that they are suitable for both right- and left-handed users. In addition, the ergonomic enabling button enables fatigue-free work, even when the HMIs are used continuously. With regard to the usability of the devices, the use of the Android operating system should also be highlighted.
Security through modified Android version
One topic that is always in focus when using Android is data security. To ensure this, the manufacturer has developed its own, extra secure Android version. With the Android Industrial+ operating system, ACD has managed to retain the advantages of Android and increase the security of the operating system so that it is ideally suited for industrial use. The entire source code is located on ACD servers in Germany, which ensures that no data is passed on to third parties. In addition, all services that could cause unwanted data sharing have been eliminated. Of course, the operating system is constantly subjected to vulnerability tests and checked for possible security gaps. All adjustments to the system are made at the ACD Elektronik location in Germany. To ensure true long-term availability, we have decoupled the system from the short Android upgrade cycles and updates, upgrades and security patches are made available by the ACD over a significantly longer period of time as needed. So that the devices can be used uninterruptedly over a long period of time, they are equipped with a replaceable battery. This can also be changed during ongoing operation, so that the device does not have to be temporarily charged.
Author:
Simon Lackner, Marketing Manager, ACD Elektronik
#Mobile #modular #touchbased #operating #concepts