Latest Industrial Automation Technical Articles

Part 4 introduces the readadc, select, case, and endselect PICAXE BASIC commands. It is the fourth article in a…

Part 4 introduces the readadc, select, case, and endselect PICAXE BASIC commands. It is the fourth article in a multi-part series on writing PICAXE code.

MQ Telemetry Transport (MQTT) is a popular low-overhead messaging protocol used by many IoT devices to communicate. This…

MQ Telemetry Transport (MQTT) is a popular low-overhead messaging protocol used by many IoT devices to communicate. This tutorial will show the user how to to set up a basic MQTT network using Python on his or her computer and an ESP8266 running the NodeMCU firmware.

Adding variable speed control and battery monitoring to a Power Wheels truck!

Adding variable speed control and battery monitoring to a Power Wheels truck!

Part 3 introduces the if...then, endif, gosub, and return PICAXE BASIC commands. It is the third article in a multi-part…

Part 3 introduces the if...then, endif, gosub, and return PICAXE BASIC commands. It is the third article in a multi-part series on writing PICAXE code.

This article walks through SCADA systems used to automate various power systems used in numerous industries. It also…

This article walks through SCADA systems used to automate various power systems used in numerous industries. It also details what the system is made up of, how they optimize performance in large-scale systems, and how these systems still poses a threat to a company's vulnerability to data and resources.

A guideline for proper considerations when making electrical platforms that can be easily, cheaply, and quickly…

A guideline for proper considerations when making electrical platforms that can be easily, cheaply, and quickly manufactured. The purpose and methods of proper board design, validation, testing, and technical support is discussed, from small to large scale production.

Control systems engineering requires knowledge of at least two basic components of a system: the plant, which describes…

Control systems engineering requires knowledge of at least two basic components of a system: the plant, which describes the mathematically described behavior of your system, and the output, which is the goal you are trying to reach.

Building on skills developed in the introductory KiCad tutorial, this article will focus on creating custom parts and…

Building on skills developed in the introductory KiCad tutorial, this article will focus on creating custom parts and adding them to a local library, expanding the default libraries to include community repositories, and contributing parts back into the open source ecosystem. The end product will be a MAX31855 K-type thermocouple amplifier which can be used for a huge array of temperature sensing projects.

This article walks through the very basics of quantum computing and how they are designed. It will also provide accurate…

This article walks through the very basics of quantum computing and how they are designed. It will also provide accurate information about the principles behind quantum theory that helps quantum computing work. The objective is to help you understand this new age technology and its benefits.

An in-depth look at transformer isolation. Electrical isolation is necessary to protect circuits, equipment, and people…

An in-depth look at transformer isolation. Electrical isolation is necessary to protect circuits, equipment, and people from shocks and short circuits, as well as to make accurate measurements. Isolation transformers are one way to go.

Learn how to install the new and improved KiCad on Ubuntu 15.04 and then build a simple microcontroller board to blink an RGB LED.

Learn how to install the new and improved KiCad on Ubuntu 15.04 and then build a simple microcontroller board to blink an RGB LED.

To control high-voltage or high-power circuits with an Arduino, you have to isolate them from the Arduino with a relay.…

To control high-voltage or high-power circuits with an Arduino, you have to isolate them from the Arduino with a relay. Here's how!

Controlling a motor with an Arduino is relatively easy. In addition to simply spinning the motor, you can control the…

Controlling a motor with an Arduino is relatively easy. In addition to simply spinning the motor, you can control the position of the motor shaft if the motor has a rotary encoder.

Communicating serially with the Arduino is easy! Here, we'll show how to take some temperature measurements and then send…

Communicating serially with the Arduino is easy! Here, we'll show how to take some temperature measurements and then send the measurements over the serial link.