Responding to IEN's questions are:

• Pradeep David, Business Manager, HMI & Middleware Products, Rockwell Automation


• Mark Hobbs, Product Manager, RSView Machine Edition, Rockwell Automation


• Don Anspach, VersaView Product Manager, Information Platforms Business, Rockwell Automation


• Bill Martin, PanelView Plus Product Manager, Information Platforms Business, Rockwell Automation


• Victor Verissimo, VersaView Computer Manager, Information Platforms Business, Rockwell Automation

IEN: How can/will this sector meet benchmarks for enterprise connectivity and real-time systems? Accommodate regulatory requirements such as TREAD and 21CFR Part 11?

David: TREAD and 21 CFR Part 11 require features such as audit trails that are secure, computer generated, and time stamped, that record the operator responsible for the changes, and show the original and changed data. There are also requirements such as electronic signatures and validation for security, audit trail usage, the ability to discern altered and invalid electronic records, hybrid and procedural systems for remediation, etc. These are all standard functions within many HMI systems like RSView Supervisory Edition in conjunction with RSMACC for secure audit trails.

Hobbs: RSView Machine Edition (ME), while not able to support electronic signatures, can also authenticate against a domain and support functionality like automatic lockout, and password changing. Another significant feature of RSView ME is its ability to track set point changes -- if an operator changes a set point, the system can track who logged in, who made the change, and what changed.

Anspach: From a hardware perspective, there are industrial computers available today that can talk up to the enterprise level, or down to the device level. On the HMI side, the Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus and VersaView CE have onboard Ethernet ports and available ControlNet adapter, basically enabling the same function for basic applications. More data-intensive applications would require the muscle of an industrial computer.

IEN: Will HMI/MMI shift from client-server to device-based architectures?

Martin: Actually, we see the shift happening from device-based to client-server architectures. The dominant market today is one that is machine-level, but wants a client-server base. This will be a gradual shift, not a rapid leap. In other words, users will want the technology that will enable client-server architectures in the future while still allowing access to the device-based architecture they live in now. There are even plans afoot that would bring the functionality of a Supervisory Edition environment to the machine level. The technology that could do this is still in development, and won't be ready for a few years.

IEN: What innovations are in store for HMI/MMI users?

David: HMI users will have richer experiences both at design time and runtime, thanks to new technologies like Avalon / XAML from Microsoft that will release with their Longhorn Operating System. XAML is the new Windows native rendering language.

The other area is "Zero-effort," or self-configuring HMI, where the HMI configures itself based on external data. These are particularly sought after by customers who have similar but not identical HMI systems like automobile body shops, DAIPR manufacture, etc. with different mixes of robots, clamps, welders, servo axes, and the like.

Verissimo: Wireless products in manufacturing environments have become much more robust. The trend of bringing PC functionality to a portable device will continue, so look for more tablet PCs and PDAs in manufacturing environments. Other hardware trends on the horizon include HD screens for the factory, continued emphasis on processing capabilities, providing lower-cost, higher-performance devices, increased memory, and larger hard drives.

IEN: How important is embedded intelligence? Collaborative manufacturing? Collaborative Production Management? The role of de facto standards (ActiveX/OPC, XML/SOAP, etc.)?

David: Embedded systems are growing in popularity due to their plug-and-play value proposition and relative isolation from the viruses and worms plaguing the office environment. The reduced cost of non-rotating media (Flash Drives) also makes this an attractive alternative. Standards have played a critical role for HMIs; standards compliance is vital because most customers need to customize their applications to their manufacturing environments, laboratory systems, ERPs, any myriad of third party devices, and such.

IEN: What are the R & D hotspots? Which ones are closest to commercialization?

Verissimo: To answer this question, you have to look to commercial technology. It's a growing acceptance that commercial technologies will drive the development of industrial technology. Much like Wal-Mart drove the acceptance of RFID tracking in the supply chain, other commercial space innovations will drive and influence industrial opportunities, growing the acceptance of commercial technologies.