mouser.com/te 5
implementing them, manufacturers can reduce
downtime and ensure that new processes will be
reliable.
It also opens the door for decentralized
architectures that move control from a central
cabinet to the components themselves. In other
words, making a factory's components more flexible
requires making them more intelligent. No matter
how intelligent devices become, however, they
must be able to communicate with one another to
function efficiently as a system.
Embracing Modularity
Designing manufacturing systems with
interchangeable, independent module
components that can be easily assembled,
disassembled, and upgraded will support rapid
customization of production lines and seamless
integration of new technologies. Enabling this
interoperability will require a standardized method
for the delivery of both data and power wherever
and whenever they are needed on the factory floor.
Manufacturers like TE Connectivity are playing an
important role in the development of these modular
designs. The company's knowledge of connectivity
solutions means it can guide customers toward
emerging components and designs that enable
greater flexibility. Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) has
emerged as a strong contender for the standardized
communication protocol needed to support the
interoperability of modular manufacturing systems.
Because SPE transmits both power and data over
a single twisted pair of wires, it can help simplify
connectivity questions and reduce the complexity
associated with traditional cabling architectures.
This approach could help make installation
easier and foster a cleaner, more organized
industrial environment. Both of these features are
prerequisites for flexible architectures that could
require rearranging the factory floor or repositioning
devices.
Building more intelligence into connectors will also
be a key part of this process. Because connections
will need to change dynamically to support
Figure 1: Video analytics, machine learning, and artificial
intelligence make it possible to train and retrain existing machines
to take on different tasks under different circumstances. (Source :
Syda Productions/stock.adobe.com)
