Industrial Automation

Some say that engineers have destroyed our cities by building freeways that divide neighborhoods and exacerbate congestion, erecting ugly steel and glass towers across the landscape, stringing cables and wires in overhead bundles down our streets, and covering every piece of nature with concrete and tarmac. But is it fair to blame engineers for this unsightly urban aesthetic? Weren't they just doing what urban planners asked them to do? To what extent can we blame engineers for the world we live in today?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Industrial Automation, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Industrial Automation today.

Just about everything we know that's manufactured eventually gets old, wears out, and has to be replaced. What about semiconductors? Nobody seems to be concerned about them, yet there are billions of chips installed everywhere, including safety-critical devices. There's a host of things that could go wrong: electromigration, oxide breakdowns, negative bias temperature instability, etc. And all of these are made more critical as chip sizes diminish. What if a deeply-embedded integrated circuit in an airplane or oil platform suddenly fails? Should all chips be stamped with a "replace by" date?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Industrial Automation, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Industrial Automation today.

When you think about how unsafe buildings and factories were in the 19^th century, you can understand why the dangerous features of elevators have been grandfathered into today's construction. In the event of a fire, elevator occupants are literally trapped inside, with no possibility for escape. How about including an escape hatch in the ceiling, with folding steps, and a ladder in the elevator shaft so occupants can climb to safety?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Industrial Automation, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Industrial Automation today.

In most large companies that purchase automation and control equipment, negotiations with the vendor are handled through the purchasing department. This leaves the engineer — who is without doubt the most knowledgeable individual about the specific needs and idiosyncrasies of the application — out of the loop. Is getting the lowest price for a purchase always necessary? How can an engineer be assertive in this area to obtain what is needed and what is really the best for the company?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Industrial Automation, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Industrial Automation today.

Recently electric automobile promoters have given us the idea that recharging batteries will be simple and efficient. Power points might be publicly available and so widespread that drivers will be able to park their vehicles near a power supply and get recharged while shopping for groceries. The truth is, however, that electric charging of car batteries will take several hours. It's never going to be like pulling into the filling station and getting a full tank in two minutes. Do you really want an electric car?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Industrial Automation, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Industrial Automation today.