Remote Control over the Internet?

摘要

Software is now available which enables use of the Internet as a communication connection for controlling industrial machinery, offering benefits such as increased manufacturing flexibility and substantial savings in cost. Operators can change set-points, start and stop specific plant and see mimics of the machinery displayed in real-time. Remote monitoring via web-type browsers over closed networks or intranets is already widely used - particularly in remote or hazardous locations. Control over the Internet has not historically been so readily accepted. Software products are emerging onto the market, but as yet not widely used for control. The main reasons for this are Health & Safety, and Security. The Health & Safety issues of remote control will always be of concern. Operators can not see what is happening when they turn on a machine or open a sluice gate - personnel may be in the locality or there may be a risk of damage to plant or property. The Internet, by its nature, is not inherently secure. If a connection is lost after you have turned equipment on, would you be able to turn the equipment off? There is also a security risk in terms of allowing access to hackers. In successfully tackling these risks, companies can greatly benefit from incorporating monitoring and control using thin client technology such as Internet Explorer or Netscape. Security can be dealt with using standard IT hardware, software and infrastructures. Loss of connections can be dealt with using localised control systems. The developments in streaming data compression such as streaming MPEG and Video/VoiceOverIP (voip) mean that video and sound can often accompany the remote control actions so as to alleviate some of the safety concerns in lack of visibility. Internet control and monitoring software is being developed which is more rugged and robust with new products and revisions being released monthly. Security and network methods are being refined to enable this new technology to be used with minimum risk, through the use of secure firewalls and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) with smart id systems. The Internet is more accepted as a transport medium with public home and business usage now commonplace.