Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
<mark>Journal publication date</mark> | 1/07/1992 |
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<mark>Journal</mark> | The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology |
Issue number | 4 |
Volume | 7 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Pages (from-to) | 231-237 |
Publication Status | Published |
<mark>Original language</mark> | English |
Local area networks are used in industrial control applications that require the digital interconnection of low-level devices such as transducers, actuators and simple controllers. It is possible to use such interconnections solely as a wiring alternative to the traditional star-connected computer controllers and to leave the control of the application with one ‘central’ computer. However, using a local area network to connect intelligent low-level devices opens up the possibility of applying a distributed control methodology to the application. This paper describes the application of a distributed control approach to a work cell previously based around a single, large programmable logic controller. Comparisons of the two approaches are made in an attempt to quantify the effect of this new approach on the metrics of the work cell.