Innovation for Agriculture

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Baumer strives to be leading in sensor technology. This means our customers have access to new trends in sensing technologies. We work together with customers, universities, and partners to demonstrate capabilities of and put to use emerging technologies.

Radar Technology – Miniaturized Radar Sensors

A new class of radar sensors will become available that have the potential to complement ultrasonic sensors. These radar sensors may be used for defined targets for positioning tasks and also for distance measurement on natural targets for e.g. boom height or implement control. Radar waves are less susceptible to environmental influences, and experience little damping in air at short distances. First field tests with this new developments confirmed good canopy penetration.
Recent advances in the SiGe BiCMOS process allow for operating frequencies well beyond 100GHz in mm bands and sub THz frequency ranges. Possible applications include wireless multi Gbps data communication, automotive radar and active and passive imaging systems for e.g. aircraft navigation under clouds, fog and dust conditions. Transceivers and antennas can now be fully integrated onto a single chip in standard semiconductor processes. This, and an active and fast adaption especially in the automotive industry, will result in the availability of miniature devices in the near future that will complement existing technologies such as ultrasonic sensors.
Radar devices in small packages in the mm band have advantageous beam propagation properties. Beam forming by a dielectric lens allows for a simple field of view and gain tailoring. At a field of view of less than +/-10° a linearity error of better than +/-6mm can be achieved. These properties compare well to e.g. ultrasonic sensors. Especially in the agriculture equipment environment ultrasonic sensors are extensively used due to their robustness and resistivity to dirt.

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The robust cable transducers GCA5 are ideally suited for outdoor applications and cramped installation space.

The robust cable transducers GCA5 are ideally suited for outdoor applications and cramped installation space.

Sensor expert Baumer is further expanding their portfolio of cable transducers being the easiest, most reliable and cost-efficient way to measure linear motion within a path from 0.5 to 50 m. New series GCA5 is practice-proven when the going gets tough, for example at mobile machinery, and is ideally suited for use in cramped installation conditions.
The compact cable transducers of the GCA5 series do not compromise on maximum robustness in demanding applications. The housing of impact-resistant plastics, the corrosion-proof stainless steel cable with abrasion-resistant nylon sheath and the non-contact wear-free magnetic sensing make them the optimal choice for reliable and low-maintenance deployment in harsh environments. Thanks to the innovative design with three-chamber-principle, both electronics and stainless steel spring are hermetically encapsulated against the cable drum.  The integrated flexible dirt skimmer at the cable inlet is an additional protection against humidity and ingress of any other harmful environmental substance for maximum application reliability.
The cable transducers of the GCA5 series feature a maximum measuring range of 4700 mm and are available either with integrated CANopen interface or analog output 0.5…4.5 VDC. The CANopen variant provides additionally redundant position sensing and hence simplifies function monitoring at control level. Housing protection IP 67 (cable inlet IP 54), shock resistant up to 50 g, vibration proof up to 10 g and the extended temperature range from -40 to +85 °C make the cable transducers particularly robust and resistant against temperature fluctuations and all kinds of soiling.
The cable transducers of the GCA5 series excel by their narrow design and shallow installation depth of a mere 65 mm which allows easy installation even in cramped space – as prevailing in mobile machinery and utility or transport vehicles. Cable transducers series have been standing the test of time in outrigger positioning at mobile cranes and telehandlers as well as height positioning at floor conveyor trucks and stacker cranes. Whether as OEM equipment or for retrofit – the robust and compact cable transducers are ideal for precise measurement of linear motion in demanding applications.

View the entire line of Cable Transducers here:

https://andersoncontrol.com/shop/sensors/cable-transducer/

Choosing the right PLC panel

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Programming logic controller (PLC) panels come in almost every shape and size with some of them being freestanding and others being wall-mounted and choosing the right solution for a particular application can be difficult.

David Manney, L&S Electric
11/18/2016

Programming logic controller (PLC) panels come in almost every shape and size with some of them being freestanding and others being wall-mounted and choosing the right solution for a particular application can be difficult. Courtesy of: L&S ElectricControlling equipment has always been of interest in industrial applications. Before modern-day computers came into existence, a series of relays controlled that equipment and may have numbered into the thousands. Any updates required expensive and time-consuming manual labor by electricians who needed to rewire all of the relays.
The adoption of digital computers gave rise to the modern programmable logic controller (PLC): a digital computer utilized for the automation of various processes within an industrial facility. The PLC is designed for applications ranging from controlling parts of an assembly line to automating and controlling the light fixtures in an establishment.
There are similarities between a personal computer and a controller. Both a PLC and a personal computer have a CPU, memory, and input/output (I/O) units. On the other hand, a controller is built for industrial applications. It is designed to operate under harsh environments often seen in many facilities. In essence, the PLC and a PC gather and release information.
The PLC panel can be used in a wide range of industrial applications, primarily for automating processes and increasing control over critical systems. The processor controls electrical power and is commonly referred to as an automation panel. PLCs are utilized in many industries including:

  • Automotive industry: the automotive industry is one of the largest users of PLCs and one of the first industries to embrace factory automation fully. The industry still makes use of automation through PLC panels on an ongoing basis.
  • Marine: from controlling specific parts of the vessel to a full vessel system, it is an important part of maintaining operation where failures can cause severe consequences.
  • Power generation: PLC panels can be used for some processes within a power generation facility, such as automating the soot blower controls
  • Paper making: PLC panels can be used for controlling many processes within the paper mill industry.
  • Automation control: The applications that achieve automation through the use of PLCs include HVAC systems, car wash systems, material handling, and conveyor systems

 
RELATED PRODUCT:  IDEC PLC+HMI SmartAXIS
 
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Inductive Factor 1 Sensors

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sensorConstant distance towards any metal

Inductive Factor 1 sensors offer the great benefit of maintaining the same sensing distance towards all metals. Unlike standard sensors where this value changes, depending on the material. The benefits of Factor 1 sensors are obvious: This uniform distance offers outstanding flexibility in system conception and sensor installation. Contrary to conventional sensors, Factor 1 sensors feature enhanced sensing distance towards many different metals. Hence, they are even perfect for applications with variable objects.
Your benefit:

  • Utmost flexibility in construction and installation „
  • Uniform, large sensing distance towards any metal „
  • Shorter installation times, thanks to minimal adaptation effort „
  • Eased alignment thanks to large sensing distance „
  • Reduced sensor variety – the same sensor will match different applications

 
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fast sense

Laser Distance Sensor for Glossy, Coarse Surfaces

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Baumer offers their new MESAX laser distance sensor for measuring demanding surfaces.

Baumer offers their new MESAX laser distance sensor for measuring demanding surfaces. The new multi-spot sensor works without external software and is based on the light section method. Up to 600 measured values of an object are recorded and the distance is then calculated. The sensor takes up to 500 distance measurements per second at a resolution of up to 2 µm (0.008 percent of the measuring range). Applications can include glossy objects in quality inspection or optimal positioning of grinding disks with coarse surfaces.
 
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MESAX 70 multi-spot – The unique laser distance sensor for shiny and very rough surfaces. [EN]