Industrial control systems continue to evolve, and in today's world, the tasks operators need to perform can change frequently. To manage this complexity, your controls must be flexible and ergonomic. This is the advantage of the HMI. With a zenon-based HMI, you can easily communicate with machines and get operational data about all your equipment and facilities.
Definition of an HMI
HMI stands for human-machine interface and refers to a dashboard that allows a user to communicate with a machine, computer program, or system. Technically, you could apply the term HMI to any screen used to interact with a device, but it's generally used to describe screens used in industrial environments. HMIs display real-time data and allow the user to control machines through a graphical user interface.Take for example a car. A car is a complex machine. The driver can control the engine, steering, lighting, air conditioning, radio and various other elements. However, you do not need to interact directly with each of these elements to control them and obtain information about their functioning. Your speed is displayed on the speedometer. You can control your radio, lighting and air conditioning using buttons, or perhaps a touchscreen. To control the engine you use the accelerator pedal, and to turn you use the steering wheel. These control and feedback instruments are like the HMI of the car. Now imagine if you could control every little aspect of your vehicle and get detailed information about its operation, all on a screen. If you could, your car's dashboard would look even more like an HMI.
In an industrial environment, an HMI can take many forms. It can be a standalone display, a dashboard attached to other equipment, or a tablet. However, its primary purpose is to allow users to view operational data and control machinery. Operators could, for example, use an HMI to see which conveyor belts are engaged or to adjust the temperature of an industrial water tank.
Using an HMI
An HMI is used for a wide range of industries. It is common in the manufacture of various types of goods, from automobiles to food and beverages to pharmaceuticals. Industries such as energy, water, wastewater, construction and transportation can also use an HMI. HMIs are frequently used by system integrators, operators, and engineers, especially process control systems engineers. These professionals may use HMIs to control machines, vehicles, factories or buildings.The sophistication of the HMI varies according to the complexity of the machine or system for which it is used. It also varies depending on how you plan to use the HMI. You can use an HMI for a single function, such as monitoring a machine, or for multiple purposes, including monitoring plant operations and controlling equipment.
When your supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system communicates with Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and input/output sensors to obtain information about equipment operation, this information is displayed on an HMI. An HMI can display this information as a graph, table, or other visual representation that makes it easier to read and understand. With an HMI, you can view all of a facility's equipment performance information in one place, improving your visibility into your plant's operations. Operators can also view and manage alarms using an HMI, so they can be sure they can react quickly.
Operators can also use HMIs to control equipment to increase productivity or adapt to changing circumstances. They can make adjustments based on the data they see on the HMI. The ability to make the required changes on screen makes this process faster and easier.
As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to play an increasingly important role in industrial facilities, HMIs are becoming increasingly useful. You can use them to view data relating to different connected devices in your installation and control them.
How can HMI improve current systems?
Beilke: From an industrial perspective, the most valuable aspect of HMI technology is the ability to closely monitor production and respond to changing production demands, increasing efficiency and reducing downtime. These benefits are the result of improved diagnosis and monitoring.
Bettes: A well-designed HMI solution not only increases operator productivity, but also provides direct visibility into the system to control or maintain the machine. Alerts are a great example of an HMI feature that provides visual indicators of machine problems and their severity.
Where can you implement HMI?
Beilke: HMIs are used in all industries that require human intervention in machines or automated equipment. This can be in machines, factories, buildings or even vehicles. Integration and complexity can vary, but HMIs can be added to almost any type of application.
Bettes: HMIs are widely used in manufacturing, from the automotive industry to the highly regulated pharmaceutical and food industries. In the process industry, HMIs are often used, such as B. In oil, gas and mining operations, many processes are controlled remotely from a control room.
Beilke: The rise of Industry and the Industrial Internet of Things makes this easier because we can turn smartphones into some form of mobile HMI, and technologies like smartwatches make HMIs wearable, increasing accessibility and usability.
The role of human-machine interfaces in SCADA systems
SCADA systems rely on embedded HMI components to function effectively. The SCADA system is the general and integrated control system of a factory or plant and is responsible for the organization of all complex processes. Traditionally, in order to combine manufacturing lines with HF interferometry, HF interferometry must be linked to the program logic controller, HF interferometry displays data from PLC and provides user PLC input.
These graphics are often very simple. Basic HMI enables operators or plant managers to check typical parameters such as machine temperature, process count, machine condition and material count.
