Modern principles of automation systems often require the separation of control systems and devices that carry out commands.
In other words, centralised management and monitoring of a large network of sensors and controls has become a standard and widely used in various projects.
On the other hand, widespread and and low cost high-speed and high-quality data networks provide the ability to establish communication channels between virtually any two points anywhere in the world.
However, the relatively high cost of specialised software for automation systems, as well as high requirements to computer systems that support them, make unprofitable or inconvenient to use such special control centres in certain applications. Internet technology allows transferring computational loads to the powerful dedicated servers and getting only the results of their work in a convenient form for the operator. This form of information system organisation is called 'cloud computing' or 'cloud technology'.[Page Break]
Such system has many advantages in comparison with the traditional methods:
• Significantly lower demands to computer hardware.
• The ability to use conventional computers, and save resources on support;
• No expensive software and licensing.
• The ability to transfer the cost of software support toward company-provider.
• Availability of full-range services anywhere in the world;
Exactly such system that provides SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) services for various automation projects developed and successfully implemented by Finnish company FF-Automation Oy. 'Cloud' Web-based application provides ControlMan software which can be modified according to user needs and allows access to remote monitoring and management of remote objects using automation equipment (Programmable Controllers AutoLog GSM PLC).[Page Break]
The system ControlMan includes two levels of information exchange - between field devices and the server ControlMan, as well as between the ControlMan server and the terminal operator. The first level is implemented with help of widespread GSM (or specialised networks TETRA) network and/or data networks GPRS. Using those networks GSM PLC controller sends the results of measurements of its sensors and receives control commands from the ControlMan server. The server application processes the incoming data and presents it in a convenient form to the operator (dynamic maps, graphs, charts, reports, illustrations, processes, etc).
Secure access to the data is organised via the internet using common web browsers and conventional computers from anywhere. An authorised user simply visits specially crafted web page, enter his password and according to the permissions granted gets access to certain system functions. FF-Automation’s specialists’ team has developed a set of standard applications for ControlMan to be used in various automation projects. These templates are easily customized according to customer requirements and conditions, changes can be performed in real-world conditions.[Page Break]
One of the most important functions of any automatic control system is a timely access to information, including the emergency situations and other events. In the ControlMan system this problem can be solved efficiently by following set of actions:
• Information access is possible via the Internet anytime, anywhere almost from any computer device.
• Sending SMS messages with alarms or reports directly to responsible professional’s mobile phone or e-mail.
• Automatic preset actions of the PLC in accordance with the situation at the facility.
Such actions may save maintenance costs, duty staff and reduce the number of visits to remote sites, as well as provide timely response to the accident, which, in turn, reduces downtime and losses.
An important characteristic of a modern automation system is its flexibility and extensibility; in other words it is a possibility to change the parameters and properties of the system without significant cost. ControlMan in this case offers excellent opportunities for remote device network growth and to upgrade them.
Adding new objects and devices, change their parameters is possible directly from Internet browser that allows to carry out some technical work 'on the fly' without having to travel on remote facility. System flexibility is also important for the information presentation methods, the ControlMan allows user to change parameters such as the set of measurements taken from the PLC controller, charts and graphs view, objects position on a dynamic map, alarms, etc.
Of course, a system with 'cloud computing' technology requires a good protection against failure and the safety management system. The Internet-SCADA ControlMan provided multi-stage protection as for field equipments and for application itself. [Page Break]
First of all, in a mobile network the phone number of the PLC controller which is used for SMS messages exchange is known only to the company specialists. Secondly, the message format is set for a specific application and the wrong message will not be processed. Additionaly, the server application running on ControlMan secure redundant servers which are owned by one of the leading providers of the world, the U.S. company Verio.com, guaranteeing trouble-free operation and 24/7 access to the system. Access operators themselves are protected with personal accounts and passwords, which is defined by security specialist.
Thus, the ControlMan system - is a powerful and extremely flexible tool for remote access to facilities automation, its monitoring and control, which is available to the user at any time and any place. ControlMan effectiveness is confirmed by numerous successfully implemented projects in different areas of urban and industrial enterprises.
For more information, visit www.ff-automation.com
