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The Importance of STEM Education

Innovation is at the forefront of the technical field, requiring a societal emphasis on the development of technological skills. It is now more important than ever that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are a main aspect of the educational infrastructure. Science and technology are improving the quality of human life by creating innovative technology that is becoming a more integrated part of our bodies and environments. Engineering and mathematics are helping to overcome the challenges faced around the globe. The need for STEM-based innovation will make it essential that students are being trained to fill the occupational demands in STEM fields.

PROFIBUS Troubleshooting Tool Demo: ScopeWare

Most problems in PROFIBUS are caused by physical layer problems. This essentially means there are cabling issues such as terminating resistors, shielding, rounding, and EMC. Things like this can cause problems with the high speed data communication cable, which is the PROFIBUS cable. One of the important tools in this program is called “ScopeWare,” which can be accessed on the upper left corner of the screen directly to the right of the ProfiTrace tab.

• PROFIBUS/PROFINET

How Big Data Affects Networks in the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been talked about as an industry dealing in data, because of the massive amount of information produced by sensor technology. In fact, harvesting data from connected devices has become one of the key excitements concerning IoT technology, as it allows for the drastic advance in the analytics of failure, evaluation, implementation and efficiency.

• Internet of Things (IoT)

PROFIBUS Troubleshooting Tool Demo: Messages

Another thing that can be done with ProfiTrace is to look at the messages that are being sent on the bus. To access these messages, click on the “Messages” tab that is above the matrix. This will be in line with the live list and statistic tabs that we have previously used.

• Products
• PROFIBUS/PROFINET

Wireless Connectivity: 900MHz, Wi-Fi, and BLE

Deciding which type of wireless connection to implement in a device can be a cumbersome task. Each solutions allows for communication without sorting through an abundance of wires. The 900MHz, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless communication tools can be used to resolve limitations in budget as well as situations where wire placement is troublesome.

• Bluetooth
• Internet of Things (IoT)

PROFIBUS Troubleshooting Demo: Checking Device Stats

When looking at the live list on the main screen, the user is able to see real time updates of what is going on. If the user had just walked up to the instillation and saw that all of the devices are green, they would assume that there is nothing wrong with the instillation. In reality, they would be seeing a real time representation of what is going on right now.

• Products
• PROFIBUS/PROFINET

The Changing Nature of Human Life and the Internet of Things

The way consumers interact with the objects in their lives is changing at a pace that once seemed impossible. Connectivity that was recently unimaginable will soon be the standard for all technological devices. The Internet of Things (IoT) goes far beyond industrial applications; consumers will be able to receive updates and information about nearly every aspect of their lives with wirelessly connected smart devices. The push for IoT technology is a push for control. Users will have control over their homes, cars, and even their own bodies through wearables. Even though it may seem intimidating to have technology take such an invasive role in consumer life, the benefits created by connectivity outweigh the perceived intrusive nature of smart devices.

• Internet of Things (IoT)

PROFIBUS Troubleshooting Demo: Accessing GSD Files

The next important thing to cover is the fact that there is a place where the GSD files are saved. In the “Settings” menu at the top of the screen, go to “Preferences.” At the bottom of the “General” tab in preferences, there is a section labeled “GSD directory locations.”

• PROFIBUS/PROFINET

PROFIBUS Troubleshooting Demo: ProfiTrace Software

For now, stay on the main ProfiTrace page that is included in every kit that Grid Connect sells. To begin, click on the button that says “Init ProfiCore Ultra.” It will begin to initialize the ProfiCore Ultra, essentially it is checking the firmware that is loaded in the Ultra to make sure it is the latest firmware. Then it will begin to check the baudrate of the instillation. Once this is complete, there will be five boxes within the main matrix (grid) on the screen.

• PROFIBUS/PROFINET

The Importance of Good Hardware and Software Documentation

Technical documentation can be intimidating because it needs to include technically complex information in an “easy to digest” fashion. Here are a few key steps in writing and creating quality documentation.