Industrial control systems have grown increasingly complex, requiring faster response times, more adaptability, and seamless integration with digital ...

THE use of function blocks for programming of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) is gaining wider acceptance. Rather than the classic “contact and coil” representation of ladder diagram or relay ...

While acknowledging the potential benefits of Python and C++, engineers caution against their indiscriminate use, particularly if there are existing IEC 61131 functions available. The debate between ...

When learning ladder logic, I was told that some new PLC systems were moving to scripted programming languages. My instructor assured us that we would not need to know anything other than ladder logic ...

When you design a measurement system, you choose the appropriate hardware and incorporate it into the test program. You have several hardware choices: traditional test instruments, data-acquisition ...

We've discussed how to automate your home with X10 before, but if you're unhappy with its limitations and are willing to roll up your sleeves, you can tweak nearly any electrical device to communicate ...

Dan Shapiro’s Robot Turtles board game Kickstarter showed there is serious appetite for kids’ games that aren’t just fun to play with but also sneakily teach core coding principles. Instead of the $25 ...