Why upgrade legacy control systems?
The reasons are many, and performance, safety and cost are the primary drivers:
- Outdated systems can be unwieldy, non-conforming and unsafe
- Legacy systems may not be documented
- Old control systems were not designed for modern payload test requirements
- Existing systems may not be extensible or modifiable
- Stenciled diagrams, toggle switches, flashing lights and paper data recorders are so old
Modern control systems take advantage of improvements in hardware technology, software, and networking:
- Modern Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) provide powerful control capability
- Multiple channels per PLC
- Analog to digital signal conversion close to the source
- Time stamped operation
- Computers and networking enable operation and data control to take place anywhere
- Software based screens (GUI / HMI) enable:
- Complete system and process views & control
- Drill down to component levels
- Alarms, logging, and set point notification and control
- Automated interlocks for personnel and payload safety
- Password protection and operating level assignments for complete operator management
- Integration of one or more systems into one centralized control station
XL Technology Systems uses Programmable logic controllers (PLC)
that are robust and proven.
Our proven experience with advanced program control and instructions (PID, motion control), and sophisticated graphical user interface (GUI / HMI) software make control of individual components and processes easy and intuitive.
We design systems with high computing power
at lower costs than ever before to provide the CPU horsepower to drive the most advanced control software available.
And, hot CPU backup/redundancy and networking capability
make systems robust and distributed - both critical to today's rigorous non-stop test environment.
