Ally Winning, European Editor, PSD
In Europe, and most likely the rest of the world, May is the biggest month in the year for the power industry. That is because it is because it is when PCIM, the largest and most important power exhibition in the industry, is held. PCIM is the perfect meeting place for buyers and sellers to interact - where an engineer or a buyer can meet all of his suppliers in one location and discover the latest technology and techniques at the same time. A world-classconference covers the latest developments in every area of the power industry. The exhibition is the place that the majority of companies in the power industry will show their best products and services. However, to call PCIM only a power exhibition would be doing it a disservice. The P in the show title may stand for power, but the rest of the letters also have their own place at the show. The CIM in the title stands for control and intelligent motion.
Control and intelligent motion is closely linked to power in an industrial context. It is the process of accurately delivering power to the right place at the right time, whether that is to energise the magnets on a motor, or to cause a robotic arm to move. It is impossible to separate the power delivery from the control of the intelligent motion system as it will fail to function correctly without both.
That control and intelligent motion is the focus of our Special Report this month, under the title of “Motor Drives, Robotics and Controls”. It is a subject which links power with other areas of electronics. The first article in the Special Report comes from Analog Devices. It looks at rotary encoders which are normally connected to rotating shafts to provide feedback on angular position and speed measurement for the control system. This process can involve sending sensitive signals over long distances in a noisy environment. RS-485 is an ideal communication standard for the application. The article looks at how this can be effectively implemented.
The second article in the Special Report looks at a different aspect of intelligent motion. Light electric vehicles are an ideal solution for transportation in urban areas. In the article, David Latimer, CEO of Magnomatics, describes how the company’s Pseudo Direct Drive technology can overcome the torque limitations of LEVs and make them viable for many more applications, while significantly cutting emissions.
The final article in the Special Report comes from Digi-Key and also deals with communication technology. This time looking at selecting and installing power, communication, and safety cabling that takes advantage of today’s technology without giving up on scalability.
As well as the features in the Special Report, inside the issue you will also find general power articles in our Tech Focus section, as well as the latest news and views from the industry. I hope you enjoy.
Best Regards,
Ally Winning
European Editor, PSD
PDF
