20/03/2018
Will IoT/IIoT Replace SCADA and PLC Systems?
As the world connects via smartphones and internet cloud technologies, it is only a matter of time before internet-based technologies replace traditional forms of energy infrastructure control systems. System Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) could soon be supplanted by Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems.
Ease of installation, reduced cost, increased data accuracy and data volume, as well as worldwide remote control and monitoring at your fingertips, will be the hallmarks for these new internet-based technologies.
Internet of Things (IoT) is designed for temperature-controlled environments like your home or office.
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) will do the heavy lifting in hot, dirty and wet indoor and outdoor environments. These environments require sensors and electronics designed for places like desert installations, oil and gas field or ocean rigs, industrial manufacturing plants, and outdoor NEMA-rated enclosures. Industrial devices include high-grade components and offer conformal coating to further protect the internal components from the rigors of industrial environments.
IoT/IIoT devices are small, inexpensive and easy to deploy. Data is consolidated to dashboards and displayed where it is convenient for the user, whether it is on a smartphone, tablet or an office computer. This allows for immediate action through automated processes or remote user interaction. With the assistance of cameras, microphones and speakers, two-way conversations can accompany the data flow. In the case of pipelines, drones equipped with cameras and microphones can visually inspect a problematic area that may not be accessible to personnel. The audio/visual information gathered by the drone allows onsite or remote personnel to efficiently and accurately assess the situation.
