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| Barcodes are a commonplace
label containing a pattern of lines
or rectangles that can be used to store
data on an item. Special readers, called
barcode scanners or barcode readers
are used to read the data encoded in
a barcode label. There are different
styles of barcode labels that encode
data differently. |
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| Condition monitoring
is a form of preventative maintenance,
where data from machines is recorded
and trended to show significant changes
that may be a sign of wear or damage.
By monitoring machine variables, issues
can be detected early, and can often
be corrected before the issue becomes
serious. For example, the vibration
of a machine may be monitored to give
an early warning that parts in the machine
may need to be replaced. |
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| Controls, also known
as a Control System or Controllers,
are the electrical devices and their
programming that regulate automation
and industrial systems. Controllers
act as the brain of a machine, receiving
sensor data, and sending commands to
the machine. Today's control systems
often contain PLCs and PC Controllers,
and the devices in a controls system
are usually networked together to coordinate
the timing of the machines they control.
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| OPC, originally standing
for "OLE for Process Control",
is an open standard used mostly by the
industrial automation industry. OPC
is a windows-based communication protocol
for the transfer of real-time plant
floor data between control devices and
data collection systems. |
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| A Programmable Logic
Controller (PLC) is an electronic device
used to control and coordinate machinery
and other electronics. Often used in
industrial automation, PLCs are like
small computers specialized for running
machinery. Most PLCs use some form of
Ladder Logic to define the behavior
of the machines they control. |
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| Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) is a technology for storing data
on a tag or label that can be read wirelessly.
RFID uses special readers and tags to
store and retrieve data. RFID Tags can
be attached to products to track their
progress through the manufacturing process
and shipping. There are many possible
applications for this growing technology. |
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