Software System for Mobile Communication, Operating and Monitoring of Automated Systems

Background

At Köln/Bonn Airport materials handling is controlled by 13 Siemens Simatic S7‐400 Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). These PLCs send 7,290 notifications (alarms, warnings, statistics, operating notifications) to the InTouch Wonderware SCADA system. Prior to implementing Extend 7000, stationary control room staff would monitor for irregularities and manually forward notifications to the responsible service staff. Via the InTouch SQL interface, Extend 7000 has been integrated to allow control staff to receive this information on a mobile device i.e. BlackBerry.

Operational benefits of implementing Extend 7000

• Authorised engineers have full mobile control via a BlackBerry or other smartphone.
• EXTEND 7000 utilises the public mobile network which enables an automated plant to be operated remotely at low costs.
• Communicating with the control room in case of failure notifications is no longer necessary, information relating to baggage handling system faults is transferred directly to mobile devices used by the appropriate service personnel.
• Detailed failure information including pending and unacknowledged notifications, can be obtained anywhere at any time, reducing the need for walkways and security checks.

Results

Since the integration of EXTEND 7000 into the maintenance workflows at Köln/Bonn Airport, unplanned downtimes of the luggage handling systems have been significantly reduced. The control room is no longer staffed around the clock and will most likely be turned off for good in the near future.

In summary: Generic Benefits of using BlackBerry and Extend 7000:

• Real time information: Receive active notifications from all system components
• Workflow management: Dispatch notifications and work orders amongst each other within a defined workflow
• Accountability: Monitor activities of other team members in real-time
• Display flexibility: Monitor values from system components either in text/numerical or graphical format
• Remote access: execute commands on predefined components
• Visibility: Visually monitor system parts by accessing IP-camera systems
• Data: Review written documentation such as manuals, pictures, contact lists and work orders
• Maintenance: Access real-time information on stock and spare part availability
• Actively control system components while onsite during maintenance tasks
• Remote support: Experts can assist onsite staff based at different locations from anywhere in the world.