Computer/Embedded Technology


Automatic weighing system uses radio modems and RS485 bus to collect data

30 July 2003 Computer/Embedded Technology

A steel foundry in northern Italy found it necessary to replace its manually-operated iron and coal weighing system with a new automatic type. The automatic system was also required to provide some additional features as to the amount of materials used over a period and relevant data regarding interfacing with the supervisory console. It was also required that the new system be open towards future extensions within the plant.

Although the computing needs of the weighing system are small in themselves, the 'openness' of the required solution imposed special constraints on the system architecture. Due to the presence of moving trays, the customer also required the installation of a radio link for use in the different parts of the weighing system.

The system integrator proposed a solution based on the ADAM-5000 Series distributed data acquisition and control modules, available locally from ProMicro, as the core system with two remote units to collect data on the iron and coal scales.

The remote iron scale unit uses an ADAM-4012 analog input module to convert the weight signal from the load cells and is linked with the core system through an ADAM-4550 2,4 GHz radio modem. Another ADAM-4012 is used by the coal scale unit and is directly linked to the core system through an RS485 bus.

The ADAM-4550 2,4 GHz radio modem is RS232/RS485 software configurable
The ADAM-4550 2,4 GHz radio modem is RS232/RS485 software configurable

Weight display is handled by the core system and indicated on seven-segment displays, and recipe management allows the loading of the coal tray to be driven by the measured load of iron. The core system also handles requests from the supervisor console to change its recipe or transmit operational and statistical data.

The weighing system has proven to be highly reliable and cost effective, says ProMicro. The ADAM modules and RS485 bus, together with the radio link, were key elements in creating an open and expandable system which is now being extended to encompass the entire plant.



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

From idea to intelligent product
TRX Electronics Computer/Embedded Technology
Mouser Electronics has announced a new eBook in collaboration with Arduino – From Blink to Think: How Arduino UNO Q Helps Designers Go from Idea to Intelligent Product.

Read more...
Think Diamond Long-life COM-based SBCs
Electronic Products Design Computer/Embedded Technology
A COM-based SBC combines the flexibility of a standard computer-on-module (COM) with a baseboard offering additional I/O, expansion sockets, power supplies, and I/O connectors. The result is a highly flexible, highly expandable, feature-dense product that can be adapted to the widest range of applications, offering maximum product lifetime.

Read more...
Next-Gen Min-ITX motherboard
Vepac Electronics Computer/Embedded Technology
Adding to AAEON’s extensive industrial motherboard portfolio, the Next-Gen MIX-Q870A1 is the company’s most advanced Mini-ITX board to date.

Read more...
Rev 2.0 PolarFire FPGA ethernet sensor bridge
Altron Arrow Computer/Embedded Technology
Smaller, multi-camera platform enables scalable Ethernet architectures for NVIDIA Edge AI systems, while lowering power, cost and integration complexity.

Read more...
Rugged combo antennas cut multi-network installations down to one
iCorp Technologies Computer/Embedded Technology
Quectel Wireless Solutions has expanded its antenna portfolio with four rugged multi-network combo antennas.

Read more...
Intelligent video processing
Rugged Interconnect Technologies Computer/Embedded Technology
The CHARM150AGX is based on a NVIDIA AGX Orin embedded processor, which incorporates a multicore ARM processor and powerful AI/ML accelerator.

Read more...
Quectel’s single-board computers put industrial edge computing on one PCB
iCorp Technologies Computer/Embedded Technology
Quectel Pi series of single-board computers (SBCs), designed for a broad range of industrial applications, include three compact development platforms – the Quectel Pi M1, L1, and H1 boards.

Read more...
Nordic expands nRF Cloud with firmware vulnerability scanning
RF Design Computer/Embedded Technology
nRF Cloud identifies vulnerabilities in firmware and shows exactly which deployed devices are affected, empowering device manufacturers to address EU Cyber Resilience Act requirements.

Read more...
Arrival of the Epic-PTH9
Vepac Electronics Computer/Embedded Technology
AAEON introduces the EPIC-PTH9, a compact 4-inch industrial single-board computer powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 (formerly Panther Lake) processors.

Read more...
EPS-9600 Managed Layer 3 Ethernet Switch with next-generation Time- Sensitive Networking
Electronic Products Design Computer/Embedded Technology
Diamond Systems has introduced EPS-9610 (part of the EPS-9600 family), a rugged, ultra-compact embedded Ethernet switch which integrates military-grade ruggedness with next-generation Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) capabilities.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved