Expanding operator access to information on the plant floor, Rockwell Automation has announced the Allen-Bradley MobileView family of portable human machine interface (HMI) devices. The new portable operator interface family allows personnel to move around a machine, down a production line or throughout an entire plant when using an interface, resulting in greater worker and plant productivity.
The MobileView interfaces allow manufacturers to have information and machine control wherever it is required. By incorporating thin client technology, the MobileView family enables operators to carry functionality in their hands and bring it directly to the machines.
"Portable HMIs extend the reach of operator interfaces in both a literal and figurative sense," says Jeff Sandison, Marketing Manager of Rockwell Automation SA. "By breaking away from traditional applications where devices are fixed to a panel, operators enjoy the freedom and flexibility that come with mobility."
With MobileView, manufacturers can enjoy a lower total cost of ownership since maintenance and repair is more efficient and cost-effective. Because operators can approach machinery directly, the time taken to troubleshoot or repair problems can be significantly reduced. The resulting faster machine set-up and changeover times reduce overall system downtime.
Users can easily integrate the MobileView interfaces into new or existing control architecture because the terminals act as thin clients to computer applications like Rockwell Software RSView Supervisory Edition. This reduces hardware and software costs since communication is done through the server using Ethernet.
The MobileView family is industrially hardened and designed to survive the rugged conditions of the shop floor.
* MobileView Machine Terminal - The MobileView MT750 is an industrially hardened Windows CE platform, designed for realtime machine interface and is also ideal for maintenance applications. The MT750 can be integrated into an existing control system by acting as a thin client to computer applications, such as Rockwell Software RSView32, running on a computer.
* MobileView Guard Terminal - The MobileView G750 is designed for troubleshooting or maintenance applications in gated or safety critical areas. The tethered machine terminal with integrated safety components allows operators to get close to potentially dangerous machinery, in the safest manner possible. It has an emergency stop and/or a three-position enable switch. The three-position enable switch detects if the operator releases the switch and also if the operator 'clenches' the switch in a panic situation. In an unsafe area, an operator has the interface to the control system while maintaining access to the safety system.
* MobileView Tablet - The MobileView T750 is a rugged, wireless CE tablet that allows operators to move untethered around a product line or plant. It has a long-lasting lithium battery, a wireless thin client connection, and weighs less than four pounds. The T750 is designed to survive the plant floor and is more rugged than commercial tablet offerings.
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