As the industry continues to become increasingly automated, businesses need to ensure that they are leveraging technologies that provide them with the best results.
Embedded computers are seen by many as the solution, offering an efficient way to achieve reliable and cost-effective industrial automation solutions. In this blog, we’ll look at some of the many benefits of using embedded computers in the industry.
How Embedded Computers are Used within Industrial Automation
The applications of embedded computers within industrial automation are almost limitless.
In fact, thanks to their faster and more reliable operation, embedded computer systems now provide the essential computing power and communication capabilities needed to operate and control complex automated production processes.
Typical applications include controlling systems, running machinery, and driving production lines; jobs that may once have been carried out with heavy human intervention.
The most common application of embedded computers in industrial automation is machine control. This covers controlling the movement and operation of various types of machinery, including robots, conveyor belts, and assembly lines.
Embedded computers are also used for process monitoring. By collecting data from sensors and other equipment throughout a plant or factory, these systems can provide real-time information on critical parameters such as temperature, pressure, and flow rates.
The Benefits of Using Embedded Computers
Cost Effectiveness
One of the most important benefits of using embedded computers for industrial automation is their cost-effectiveness. Embedded systems are typically much cheaper than their traditional counterparts, and they can be quickly and easily implemented, often with little or no disruption to existing processes.
Additionally, since they contain fewer moving parts, they are less prone to breakdowns and require minimal maintenance, reducing long-term costs, and providing a greater return on investment over time.
Flexibility
Another benefit of embedded systems is their flexibility. Unlike traditional automation systems, which are typically rigid and inflexible, embedded systems can be easily adapted to meet changing production requirements.
This makes them ideal for rapidly changing automation needs, allowing companies to quickly and easily reconfigure processes without the need for extensive redesigns or replacements. Additionally, embedded computers are capable of performing multiple tasks at once, allowing for the automation of several processes simultaneously.
Accuracy
By integrating embedded computers into their operations, businesses can achieve greater accuracy, and safety. As each system is programmed and calibrated to deliver a specific function, there is no room for human error, rendering the output to be more consistent and reliable than that of general-purpose computers.
Guaranteed accuracy is one of the key factors which has led to embedded computers being used within high-precision equipment such as robotics and automated factory machinery. In fact, embedded computers can also be found in critical medical equipment, navigation systems, and scientific instrumentation.
Reduce Overheads
Industrial automation is a great way to reduce overhead costs related to staff recruitment. By integrating automated systems, businesses can reduce the amount of staff they need to recruit, train, and manage.
In fact, with the use of embedded computers, machines are now able to perform a variety of tasks that can be monitored, and managed remotely, thereby reducing the amount of human oversight needed completely.
Industrial automation isn’t just a great way to save money on the recruitment and management of staff; automated processes enabled by embedded computers also provide increased speed and accuracy, allowing businesses to become instantly more scalable.
Enhanced Safety and Security
Embedded computers are used to enhance safety and security in industrial automation by providing improved situational awareness and control capabilities that help to protect people and processes from dangerous situations.
They can monitor connected equipment for signs of malfunction, automatically shutting down a system when a risk is detected. They can also provide data logging, alarm notification, and remote access capabilities to monitor, control, and respond to potential threats in real-time.
Additionally, embedded computers can be used to integrate different systems and devices across entire factory floors to create a unified security platform. This helps to reduce potential blind spots by enabling better management of risks.
Energy Saving
Finally, embedded computers are designed to have low power requirements and use less energy overall to optimize their battery life and avoid heat production. This can help to reduce operational costs overall, in addition to improving the environmental impact of industrial automation processes.
Embedded computers have revolutionized the way automated tasks are handled in industrial settings. With the vast array of benefits they offer—including enhanced performance, improved safety, reduced downtime, and cost-efficiency—they are becoming increasingly popular choices for businesses across all industries.
