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Monday, May 11, 2009 |
I mentioned earlier about my trip to Detroit last week for the 17th Industry Advisory Board meeting of the Center for Intelligent Maintenance Systems. The Center is a joint university/industry/government (National Science Foundation) project where graduate level engineering researchers probe manufacturing and equipment problems for client manufacturing companies. They have analyzed a number of things including rotating equipment, compressors and wireless sensors. The students presented the results of research since the last IAB meeting and previewed directions for additional research. They have developed some software tools under the umbrella of the Watchdog Agent and have developed some very interesting maintenance/production scheduling algorithms. I urge both technology suppliers and end user engineers to take a look at what the Center can do for you.
3:07:51 PM 
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No blogging over the weekend as I spent 12 hours each day at the local park supervision referees at the 14th Sidney Mayfest soccer tournament. Our field was down a little this year, but we still had 144 teams show up for the weekend--enough to temporarily increase the local population by about 50%. I was really proud of the development of my young referees. Young men and women from about 14 to 17 filled in a lot of games and did very well. Part of my job is to calm coaches, soothe parents and be final judge on interpretations of the Laws of the Game and local rules. Thankfully we had very few disputes. I hate it when I have to break up fights among parents.
We did have one coach (and his assistant) who stood out among peers for sheer obnoxiousness. I received a call to watch a game early Sunday, then when I discovered I made a mistake and was short a referee for the last games on Sunday, I donned the uniform and worked his game. I hope I made my point about his (lack of) sportsmanship, but I doubt it. Trouble was, the team is 8-year-old boys. I believe that's too young for this competitive stuff, but I don't make the rules. But I think that adults should be reminded that the kids want to go out, run hard, have fun--then go to McDonald's. It isn't the World Cup and no scholarships are on the line.
It's all about perspective. But I'm glad to have had a hand in helping abut 1500 kids have a safe, fun and physically active weekend.
1:25:43 PM
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News on the wireless sensor network front has been a little sparse lately after the flurry of news from 2007 and 2008 and the heated competition at that time. Emerson Process Management has been parsing out news of user implementations over the past 6-8 months. News was released that the sub-committee developing proposed standard ISA100-11a has approved the draft, but news about just what was in the approved draft has been vague.
Emerson Process, though, has just announced an enhancement to its wireless sensor network starter kit. It has added discrete switches as well as vibration and pH transmitters. Emerson notes that its wireless solution is "currently deployed in hundreds of installations across industries and world regions." It further notes that it offers "complete use of standard WirelessHart technology."
"This kit makes it very simple and low risk to try Smart Wireless," said Bob Karschnia, vice president of wireless technology at Emerson. "Companies who've never used this technology before can quickly and easily begin to reap the same benefits gained by their peers who are already using Smart Wireless."
1:16:46 PM
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© Copyright 2009 Gary Mintchell.
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