PICMG 1.3 Brings a Quantum Leap the Next Standard in the Industrial Computing Contents

MyAdvantech The Magazine for Global Advantechers and Partners Autumn 2007 No.1

Advantech’s TDCS Enables the Passage Across “The Roof of the World"

Mobile Technology Lends a Human Touch to Healthcare Digital Signage Jazzes up Your Life

PICMG 1.3 Brings a Quantum Leap The Next Standard in the Industrial Computing Contents

Published by Viewpoint Advantech Co., Ltd.

05 Advantech’s Globally Integrated Publisher Enterprise Transformation K.C. Liu

Address Joyful eLifestyle No.1, Alley 20, Lane 26, Rueiguang Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan 114 06 Mobile Technology Lends a Tel +886-2-2792-7818 Human Touch to Healthcare Website www.advantech.com 10 Information - Its Omnipresence Editorial Supervisor Corporate Marketing 12 Mobility First, Security Foremost Editorial Committee Sharon Chuu Charlene Tang Technology Forum Meg Chen Lynette Andersen 15 Programmable Automation Controllers Chuck Harrell Find Their Niche…Everywhere! Edna Garcia Rosanne Lee 18 Exploring Video Surveillance Trends Wolfgang Heinz-Fischer Monika Paitl 20 PICMG 1.3 Brings a Quantum Leap Martin Marshall James Kiley MyAdvantech Andy Taylor Special Report David Antoniuk Jean Chu 24 Extraordinary Wonders on the Tibetan Plateau Jessie Lin Mandy Chen 26 Qingzang Railway Soars Skyward Monica Sun

Art Director Inside Advantech Charlene Tang

30 Building a Hothouse for the Next Great Invention Editorial CONDÉ NAST INTERCULTURE GROUP – 32 Advantechers around the Globe Interculture Custom Media Director Sophia Liao Address 15F, No.51, Sec.2, Jilung Road, Taipei, Taiwan 110 Tel +886-2-2732-8899 Editor-in-Chief Nora Huang Managing Editor Peggy Lai Art Editor Jane Yang

Initial Issue 2007.09.30

Transforming Advantech into a GLOBALLY INTEGRATED ENTERPRISE

acing the ongoing globalization trends, and to In terms of market positioning, Advantech will Fposition Advantech as a competitive player in the adapt to supply Application-Ready Platforms and Ser- fast growing vertical markets, Advantech will launch vice-Ready Platforms, in addition to existing General a comprehensive Globally Integrated Enterprise (GIE) Computing Platforms, with special emphasis on devel- transformation program from now on and throughout oping the Industrial Automation, Medical Computing, year 2008. Gaming, Self-service, Real Estate Intelligence, Vehicle For years, Advantech has been actively expanding Computing, and Digital Signage vertical markets. its global presence to accommodate market needs. All Besides vertical sectors, we will continue to serve ex- these efforts have transformed Advantech into a Multi- isting general ePlatform customers with our current national Corporation (MNC) spanning Europe, Ameri- segmentation models: Design To Order Services (DTOS) cas and all of Asia. Recently, Advantech has experi- for key accounts, Channel Sales Forces (CSF) for chan- enced slower than expected growth. I believe that one nel partners, and Direct Marketing Forces (DMF) for of the root causes is the out-dated MNC structure. The general accounts. “GIE” term was invented by IBM and has been adopted As vertical sectors conduct end-to-end commu- by many successful global enterprises; I firmly believe nication across regions, regional heads will become GIE is also the right way for Advantech to expand into enablers who coordinate, administer and host the local MyAdvantech the future. working infrastructure. Most regional heads may also MyAdvantech Advantech’s present organization and operations take lead in one key vertical business sector. With are still based on the traditional MNC model. This regard to supply chain management, the newly estab- model sets boundaries between product divisions and lished Customer Fulfillment Center (CFC) will stream- sales regions, which limits our potential growth in line the logistics process and provide customers with this ever changing and competitive global market. I effective end-to-end services. The whole idea is to op- deeply believe we need to transform Advantech into timize Advantech’s business process and work flow at a real GIE company to facilitate the next generation the right place with the right talent, regardless of their of growth. To be competitive, we need to change from location and department boundary. the one-headquarter-multi-regions model to the GIE All GIE operations and processes will be system- model. In the GIE model, the key success factors are atically designed with help from IBM’s professional to establish direct command chain and end-to-end do- consulting service. Later this year, the company will main knowledge transfer within each vertical sector formally announce the GIE organization adjustment to from the product divisions to the sales teams. Another kick off this new GIE model in 2008. Hopefully by 2010 key factor lies in serving the vertical markets from the Advantech will be a fully-fledged GIE. I predict that customers’ point of view. Sales teams will no longer be these new changes will foster both the professional limited to selling products from just their own product growth of our global business as well as the personal groups; they will also sell products from other groups, growth of all Advantechers. and even external alliance partners to deliver total solutions. This will also help to reduce redundant re- source consumption and internal conflicts.

KC Liu, CEO of Advantech Joyful eLifestyle

Mobile healthcare services are no longer a fantastic, out-of-reach practice possible only in movies, thanks largely to communication technology advances. The emergence of mobile healthcare vehicles Mobile Technology Lends a and in-home care facilities has made life easier for both medical carers and patients with difficulties who need to travel distances.

Script by Zheng Junzhong | Translation by Shannon Hu | Photography by Shi Jihong Human Touch to Photograph provided by Taiwan Digital Images and Advantech Healthcare

MyAdvantech MyAdvantech

rs. Smith, a chronic asthmatic These scenarios evoke in many mobile communication technologies Mawoke from her dreams to an people a sense of envy: “Wouldn’t it and facilities. It can also be divided overcast, dreary morning and began be wonderful if such convenience was into two categories, and both are im- her routine measurement of peak ex- available to me when I seek medical portant elements of a mobile health- piratory flow rate (PEFR or PEF). She attention!” As a matter of fact, these care network: mobile healthcare facil- keyed in the index into her cell phone technologies are becoming more and ity installations and operations, and to uplink it to her hospital’s computer more readily available in real life, and distance healthcare and health minis- monitoring system. She then received more accessible to all; the impres- trations away from the hospital. a text message on her cell phone that sive development of which should be Mobile communication technology reminded her to increase her medica- credited to rapidly advancing “Mobile advances have been seminal in propel- tion dosage and check to see if her Healthcare” technologies. ling the rise of mobile healthcare. With PEF has been effectively lowered after- WLAN, 3G mobile telecommunication, wards. Wireless Technology Unleashed Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and ZigBee technolo- Next, Dr. Coles who was making his the Potential of Mobile Healthcare gies gradually coming in full bloom, rounds, found himself standing by the How is Mobile Technology defined? and tablet PC’s, cell phones and PDAs bed of a small boy at the children’s hos- Deputy Chairman Mr. Xu Minghui of growing more lightweight and power- pital explaining the boy’s bone fracture the Information Department at Taipei ful, all the requisite infrastructure is conditions to his father. Dr. Coles ac- Wan-Fang Hospital provided a pithy in place, which in turn, can be an ex- cessed the hospital database using the definition: “Mobility is the antithesis cellent motivator for furthering mobile medical tablet PC and wireless network of stationary. Mobile healthcare can be healthcare. mounted on the medical equipment more generally explained if one looks Additionally, the advent of an aging platform to retrieve the boy’s X-ray, at it from that point of view.” The term society and growing healthcare provi- which came immediately to life on the is, in the main, defined by a capacity sion also promises bright prospects for monitor. Dr. Coles spent less than five for servicing patients anytime, any- the mobile healthcare market and in- minutes to put the father at ease by up- where with accessible medical care dustry. According to the statistics from dating him on the boy’s status. and resources by means of manifold the United Nations, the population of Joyful eLifestyle

when making their rounds. This abil- has propelled Advantech to launch a ity will greatly simplify the work of series of development programs for the nursing staff, supporting them healthcare. Advantech’s solid foun- with greater efficiency, while lower- dation in industrial computing has ing the risks of erroneous diagnosis or invested the company with excellent prescriptions. technological strengths in the develop- POC-S155 mobile healthcare plat- ment of mobile healthcare products: form is an innovative solution designed such as nursing carts currently em- by Advantech with valuable input pro- ployed by the children’s ward at the vided by Chang-Gung Medical Sup- Taipei Veterans General Hospital, or plies & Equipment Corp, INQ Gen the in-home care solution co-designed Technology, and Yiyang Medical by Advantech and Kaohsiung Medical Supplies. POC-S155 offers excel- University. The Company is also work- lent versatility with optional spec- ing to expand and introduce similar ifications in keeping with the care facilities inside ambulances in the need of the users: the height, future. accessories and size can be In addition to fulfilling fundamen- proportionately modified. Ad- tal medical requirements, Patient In- vantech’s new slim and light fotainment Systems in hospital wards Medical Tablet PC also aims are another growing new trend. Work- to provide medical profession- ing as a bedside computer; doctors seniors age 65 als with an effective mobile solution and nurses can update patients’ health and older will account for almost 30% at work; weighing only 2.5 kg with a status; while patients can use them to of the total population by 2050. MIC of touch screen, it is a great companion play online games, watch pay-per-view the Institute for Information Industry for doctors on multiple sites across the movies and enjoy other entertainment. MyAdvantech also pronounced that the output value whole hospital. Furthermore, it can Digitization, Visualization and of global healthcare industries by 2015 still be used and be charging while at- Interactivity will dictate the course of will reach US$597 billion. Mobile tached to a nursing cart. direction for medical technology ap- healthcare therefore has been widely And for in-home care away from plications in the future, and mobile acknowledged as the beacon of future the hospital, mobile healthcare affords healthcare fits the bill perfectly. Of medical treatment and hi-tech medical chronically ill patients and patients course, that’s not to say that there is industries. discharged from hospital precious as- no room for improvement, that’s why sistance. Distance health monitoring Advantech vows to commit even more The Greatest Niches: systems can measure and collect pa- research energy and resources into Mobile and Timeliness tient’s blood pressure, pulse and blood mobile healthcare platforms and in- Mobile healthcare fits the bill when sugar indexes, and uplink them to the home care devices. it comes to innovative services and hospital or healthcare service provid- applications from the perspectives of ers. Medical staff can readily watch both medical staff and patients alike. and keep track of patient’s conditions Tim Cheng, Sales Manager of Advan- by means of a specific device like the tech Taiwan cited hospital healthcare UbiQ in-home care solution, which can as an example: “Nurses in the past had conduct a simple Q & A session when to return to the nursing station before necessary. The UbiQ in-home care they could key diagnostic data into the solution was co-designed by Advan- computer. But the presence of mobile tech and the Institute for Information healthcare platforms has expedited Industry; this simple, easy-to-operate their jobs, allowing them to put to good panel provides users with immediate use special equipment on the medical assistance and service. platform than enables them to directly key in patient data which is then fed Digitization, Visualization to the backend system; or collect data and Interactivity from it by means of Wi-Fi connection The popularity of mobile healthcare Joyful eLifestyle

riday evening, an exhausted Alex messages on Digital Signage seem companies or consumer product sup- Fgets off work. He drags himself to to fill the fragmented lulls of the pliers and other self-made messages the MRT station and is immediately urbanites with small but satisfying to increase the marketing channels for swallowed up by throngs of people. pleasures. Research shows that the potential new merchandise, medica- Oblivious to the traffic, Alex sets his marriage of image and sound best at- tion, operations or vaccines. Doctors mind on his weekend plans to unwind. tracts attention. The whopping expen- at the clinics can inquire whether the He looks up at an overhead LCD and sive TV ads at their best are one-way patients are thoroughly informed of sees the trailer for The Bourne Ultima- broadcasts, but Digital Signage entices their conditions and treatment options tum. The movie hits the theaters that consumers and advertisers to interact during sessions. Also, when patients night and Alex, intrigued, immediately two-way with its touch-screen display ask about new possible remedies, calls his girlfriend and asks her to meet and diverse digital content. treatments not covered by their health at the theater. While speaking on the The widely popular KaiCool arcade insurance or self-paid regimens; doc- phone, he glances up at the train arrival in Taipei is a “purikura” (a word of Jap- tors can offer impersonal suggestions schedule on the display to make sure anese origin, its quasi-English mean- without having to directly merchan- that he doesn’t miss the train. ing is “print club”) photo booth that dise new therapies or drugs, because Amy, a “fashionista” at heart, loves successfully partners digital signage patients have already seen the relevant designer bags. As she window shops with various props and adornments messages in the waiting room. aimlessly down a street lined with high- – a testament to the aforementioned end boutiques, a fashion show playing research result. Multiform Packages to Accurately on an LCD screen inside a store catches A study released by leading world- Assess Advertising Effects her eye. She is charmed by the hand- wide market research and strategic Lucrative market potential has bag sported by the catwalk model, and consulting firm, California-based Info inspired Advantech to surpass its com- steps into the store to ask about it. As Trends/CAP Ventures, forecasted that petitors in Taiwan, preempting the un- the clerk rings up her purchase, Amy digital signage revenue will grow charted territories of Digital Signage 10 notices a message ticking on the screen, from US$550 million in 2003 to US$2 technology development and designing 11 MyAdvantech reminding shoppers of a special gift billion in 2009, an outstanding 364% a cohesive line of new products. In MyAdvantech offer for purchases over US$500 at the growth. Other than crowded public addition to the latest fanless designs, VIP Lounge. She makes a mental note venues (train stations, retail stores, Advantech also packages a Software not to forget to pick up her gift. chain convenience stores, etc.), Digital Development Kit (SDK) for embedded INFORMATION The traditional marketing approach Signage technology will also be ex- software development. Meanwhile, Advantech has part- nered with an array Digital Signage Jazzes up Your Life of digital signage Its Omnipresence software compa - is constituted predominantly by TV tensively adopted in hospitals, clinics, nies, bolstering its technologies with ads, print media and outdoor bill- banks and beauty parlors. staunch multimedia file management boards to attract consumer attention. Content played on Digital Signage and software program editing know- LCDs, electronic billboards, projection Nowadays, the versatility provisioned screens can be flexibly adapted to the how to provide robust digital signage by Digital Signage has effortlessly nature of each location, delivering tar- solutions. Not yet resting on its laurels, screens and other emerging display types surmounted time and spatial limita- geted messages to specific demograph- Advantech moves to furnish buyers have stealthily made their entrance into – tions that often constrain traditional ics. For example, the “Hospi-channel” with customized product development and transformed – our lives. They are media, allowing entertainment and in- that currently dominates projection and 3 to 5 years of value-adding tech- seen everywhere – inside elevators, formational content, interspersed with and display screens in clinics and hos- nical support. tantalizing creative advertisements to pitals, is a syndicated health message on streets, at train stations and at retail play on split windows. Digital Signage broadcast system that caters to crowds Indisputably, Digital Signage appli- store counters, displaying glitzy marketing is now looking to be the in waiting rooms. Large TV screens cations and development in the future advertisements and news messages. next big “thing” in retail media! are mounted in these waiting rooms to will translate into an unusually wide play medical association/foundation- spectrum of business offerings. The

Script by Zhang Shengyi | Translation by Shannon Hu Versatile Applications Generate bankrolled information (e.g., urogeni- technologies portrayed in the futuristic Photography by Liu Weizhen Enormous Market Potential tal issues and treatment), healthcare film noir Minority Report may be seen Photograph provided by Taiwan Digital Images The colorful digital content and messages provided by pharmaceutical in real life – real soon. Danshui

Hongshulin

Zhuwei

Guandu Xinbeitou

Zhongyi

Fuxinggang Qiyan Beitou Qilian

Shipai Joyful eLifestyle

Mingde

Zhishan iane, a typical Taiwanese com- commuting experience; among which, ence & Technology Development Co., Shilin muter, boards the MRT everyday security is of the utmost importance. and Orbit Technology Inc. This System Jiantan D from Tucheng, to travel to her office in TRTC’s statistics show that to this involves the installation of custom- Mobility First, Yuanshan Taipei’s Xinyi District. The commute day, 208 rail obstruction incidents ized embedded automation controllers Minquan W. Rd. Zhongshan Junior High School Shuanglian takes less than 40 minutes, giving have been reported since MRT be- (UNO-2050), designed by Advantech

Nanjing E. Rd. her ample of time to preview her daily gan operation in 1996. Some of these that nestle against the rail near the Zhongshan agenda. Before the MRT was commis- breaches occurred during off-hours platform. The UNO-2050 is compact, Security Foremost Ximen Taipei Main Shandao Zhongxiao Zhongxiao Zhongxiao Sun Yat-Sen Taipei City Hall Station Temple Xinsheng Fuxing Dunhua Memorial Hall Yongchun HoushanpisionedKunyang for service, Diane had to leave and went unnoticed. The obstructions easily installed, vibration-resistant,

Lifestyles in Taipei have been completely revolutionized through Longshan Temple home at least an hour earlier and were not detected until they were durable, and powered with a robust NTU Hospital Daan Xiaonamen Chiang Kai-Shek the introduction of its renowned Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Jiangzicui endure heavy traffic congestion into dragged behind the MRT for about 300 I/O integrated interface. Furthermore, Memorial Hall Technoloty Building system. Everyday, thousands of commuters travel on the MRT, Guting Taipei City throughout the trip. Worst meters. its unique fanless design resists iron Xinpu Liuzhangli which requires a complex security system. Taipower Building of all, when she finally reached Taipei, To prevent such obstructions from particles generated during train pro- Dingxi Linguang Diane would have to worry about mak- causing major disasters, TRTC has cession that could potentially damage Gongguan

Script by JC | Translation by Shannon Hu | Photographs provided by Interculture and IMAGEMORE Yongan Market ing it to work on time as she struggled installed a patrol at each station plat- the system. Additionally, the firmware Wanlong Xinhai Jingan to find a place to park her car. This sort form during rush hour. The patrols provided by Orbit Technology offers Wangfang Wangfang Jingmei Hospital Community Muzha Taipei Zoo Nanshijiao of mayhem was a daily nightmarish will immediately whistle to sound an special signal transmissions, high-per- Dapinglin ritual for many Taiwanese residents. alarm in the event of any obstruction, formance data computing, and setup-

Xiaobitan Qizhang Now, Diane has time to read and relax and they will press the emergency and-play capabilities. It’s operated by while commuting to and from work. button to notify the control center an infrared radar detector at platform/ The MRT began operation on the rail area, end wall entrance rail, the Xindian Xindian City Hall Muzha Line on March 28th, 1996, gap between train and station end wall followed by successive openings of Multiplex Security entrance, and platform cordon. stations in Danshui, Zhonghe, Xia- The end result of this setup is that onanmen, Xindian, Nangang, Banqiao Systems Safeguard the UNO-2050 will pick up disruption and Tucheng forming an intricate and signals from the infrared radar detec- 12 extensive travel network. MRT Assurance and tor as soon as unidentified objects 13 MyAdvantech Currently, there are seven MRT Convenience fall in the cordon area and sound the MyAdvantech routes at a total distance of 74.4 kilo- alarm to activate the monitoring sys- meters long. According to statistics by tem. The system display zeroes in the the TRTC (Taipei Rapid Transit Corpo- when necessary, exercising vigilance location of the drop, notifies TRTC per- tation), there was an average of 1.02 against any potential mishaps. Addi- sonnel, and informs the engineers to million MRT commuters in May, 2007; tionally, a “Platform Rail Obstruction decelerate or brake. in other words, there are at least one Surveillance Alarm System” has been This whole process might sound million commuters like Diane who use instituted at stations where traffic is elaborate, but it actually takes less the MRT everyday, as they supplant unusually heavy. The system compris- than a second, and it can detect ob- their former means of transportation es a rail section/platform (yellow line jects down to the size of a basketball. with the reliability and efficiency of buffer zone) monitoring mechanism, System installation is expected to be rapid transit. Taipei’s MRT has become broadcast/early warning/surveillance, completed by September 2007. indispensable to its citizenry, making illumination, even emergency service itself an integral part of people’s lives, suspension device. Under the auspices Taipei Commuters Now Experience improving their safety, efficiency and of new technologies, TRTC is now able Improved Convenience & Safety stress levels on commutes everyday. to preempt and identify possible haz- To expedite incoming and outgo- ards and sound an early warning/cue. ing traffic at the stations, TRTC has Security Comes with Convenience With this mechanism in place, TRTC adopted new lock gates, toll collecting A total of 126 cities across the can instantly identify the type and machines, coin exchangers and value- world have installed rapid transit sys- magnitude of such hazards and take adding MRT EasyCard systems that tems, with over half of these systems the necessary measures to minimize ensure high stability, heat and vibra- in North America and Europe. Despite any damage. tion resistance. UB Union Technologies being only 11 years old, the TRTC Inc. is credited for designing this new has never wavered in its commitment Monitoring Train Procession Safety accommodation service, which is now to improving the system in order to The Platform Rail Obstruction gracing the subway systems in Guang- provide commuters with the most Surveillance Alarm System is a joint zhou, investing travelers with many amenable, comfortable, and secure brainchild of Advantech, TRONY Sci- convenient amenities. Technology Forum Programmable Automation Controllers Find Their Niche…Everywhere!

15 MyAdvantech

In environmental monitoring, in factory automation systems, and in the networks necessary to transfer data, we can see PACs everywhere within the manufacturing enterprise to serve and connect systems for better operations.

Script by Billy Piovesan, Advantech Industrial Automation Group Images provided by Advantech

n the beginning there was the relay and in batch processes. determinism. In many industrial au- Iand the timer. And in the process But PLCs are limited. Ladder- tomation environments, especially in industries, there was the hardwired logic programming cannot be used for motion control and other discrete auto- controller. A generation ago, digital complex mathematical formula, such mation applications, it is absolutely re- electronics made the hardwired relay as the basic PID algorithm found in quired that an instruction get where it and controller obsolete in favor of the every single loop controller in a pro- is supposed to go, when it is supposed PLC, the programmable logic control- cess plant, for example. Then, along to get there. PC operating systems are ler. Made to be fully deterministic and came the PC. Inexpensive computing non-deterministic and have variable la- have limited control functions, PLCs power became ubiquitous and easily tency, depending on processor loading were able to sweep hardwiring into the affordable. PCs were tried early on in or the requirements of the operating dustbin because they were easy to pro- industrial control, but early operating program. gram in the “ladder” style of electrical systems and hardware were not up to wiring diagrams, and they were easily the stresses and standards of the in- The Rise of the PAC re-programmable so that they could ac- dustrial workplace. Several companies, including Ad- commodate changes on assembly lines One of the biggest issues was vantech, have produced a powerful and PAC Hardware Overview PAC Hardware Overview

PACPAC Hardware Hardware Overview Overview Open and Modular Architecture with Local VGA Port Open• HMIand functions Modular can be integrated Architecture by directly attaching anwith LCD panel Local to the VGA VGA port and Port PAC Hardware Overview • HMI functions running can HMI be software integrated on by the directly controller attaching an LCD panel to the VGA port and PAC Hardware Overview running• HMIBuilt-in software SQL Mobile on the Server controller for data exchange with enterprise database • Built-in SQL Mobile Server for data exchange with enterprise database

ERP

ERP ADAM-5550KW Series Kernel

ADAM-5550KW Series KernelOPC or Modbus/TCP Local HMI HMI Other OPC or Modbus/TCP Applications Local HMI Technology Forum HMI PAC Other Applications PAC KW ProConOS IEC-61131-3 KW ProConOS Multi-domain Functionality Enterprise DB IEC-61131-3 SQL Multi-domainPAC’s will play Functionalitya major role in different application domains by adhering to open Smart Enterprise DB MS Access industry standards and providing multidiscipline programming and functionality. Devices SQL PAC’s will play a major role in different application domains by adhering to open SCADA and DCS systems means they able very sophisticatedSQL Mobile operationsMS Access to standards-based networking and com- Smart SQL Server SQL industry standards and providing multidiscipline programming and functionality. Devicescan more easily be interfaced directly be controlled SQLby Mobile PACs. For example, munications that has driven the PAC SQL Server SQL with those systems. PACs are often Advantech produces software for PAC to its pre-eminence as the factory auto-

Environmental Monitoring used as substitutes for SCADA RTUs programming, HMI creation, SCADA, mation controller of the future. Systems (EMS) Environmental Monitoring (remote terminal units) and DCS field data acquisition and distributed con- Thus, a machine control PAC can Systems (EMS) controllers, just because they work in a trol architectures, and an OPC server communicate with its sensors or other logically similar manner with data. for connection to other control systems I/O via Modbus, with other PACs in the and even to MES and enterprise inte- samePAC Hardwarefactory cell Overview with Modbus/TCP, De-factoPowerful Communication Software Tools & IT Standardsgration systems. or CANbus or CANopen, or Profibus. De-factoUtilization Communication of Modbus,To extend Ethernet, Internetthe capabilities and & IT standardsIT Standards suchof fieldas FTP, Web Server, Email Alarm and OPC It can communicate with other PACs Factory Automation (FA) Utilization of Modbus,automation Ethernet, Internet controllers, and IT standards thesuch asIEC FTP, Webhas Server, Open Email Alarm Architectures and OPC and Standards- or HMI/SCADA or DCS via Ethernet or Factory Automation (FA) PAC Hardware Overview created programming software stan- Based Systems through the use of an OPC Server, and dards, IEC 61131-3 and others.ADAM-5000/TCP These PACs are based on open architec- with the enterprise through the use of

standards take theOpen abilityADAM-5000/TCP and of program Modular- tures Architecture that permit witha variety Local of form VGA fac -Portvarious OPC or .NET services, depend- • HMI functions can be integrated by directly attaching an LCD panel to the VGA port and PAC Hardware Overview ming in aboutHMI twenty ladder-logic tors to be used yet the devices them- ing on what data it is serving and to running HMI software on the controller

commandsHMI and replace• Built-in SQLit with Mobile Servera full for dataselves exchange are with enterprisethe same database or similar. A PAC where, simultaneously.

featured programmingADAM-5550 capability. In can be used as a motion controller, a ADAM-6000 SCADAaddition, Software there’s the concept of func- data logger, a process controller, and The Power of Open Systems With Modbus Driver ADAM-5550 Machine Automation (MA) tion blocks. A late addition to the world otherADAM-6000 devices with a minimum of de- The PAC has provided incredible SCADA Software ERP With Modbus Driverof PLCs, function blocks come directlyADAM-6501 sign and configuration changes. And power to OEMs, system integrators, Machine Automation (MA) ADAM-5550KW Series Kernel ADAM-6520 ADAM-6501 from the Distributed Control System the PACADAM-5000/485 can handle control, commu- andOPC orend Modbus/TCP users interested in procuring Local HMI HMI Other (DCS) world. PACsADAM-6520 are designed to uti- nications, data logging and can com- the best possibleApplications automation solution lize function blocks and function block municateADAM-5000/485PAC multiple types of information using best of breed products and soft- ADAM-5510KW ADAM-4000 KW ProConOS Modbus I/O programming rather than the more through multiple information gateways ware.IEC-61131-3 PACs can be used for data acqui- Intelligent Transportation 16 Multi-domain FunctionalitySystems (ITS) limited ladder-logic programmingADAM-5510KW of simultaneously. ADAM-4000 Enterprise DB sition, for communication control, for 17 Modbus I/O SQL MyAdvantech MyAdvantech PAC’s will play a major role inIntelligent different applicationTransportation domains by adhering to open the PLC.Monitor & Control Center Smart All of theADAM-4501 PACs are interconnected process control…MS Access for nearly any control industry standards and providingSystems multidiscipline (ITS) programming and functionality. Devices SQL Mobile useful hybrid of the programmable devices have grown dramatically in monitoring and handling system, in Because PACs are in essence PCs, using standard networks fromSQL Mod- relatedServer task SQLin the manufacturing en- Monitor & Control Center ADAM-4501 controller and the PC. This device is market acceptance since 2001. the factory automation systems them- they are capable of being programmed bus and Modbus/TCP on the factory vironment. Data can be acquired, pro- generally called a PAC, or program- selves, and in the networks necessary in a variety of higher order program- floor to Ethernet throughout the plant, cessed, used for field-level control, and mable automation controller. ARC Ad- One Platform,Environmental Multiple Monitoring Domains to transfer the data from the plant floor ming languages. Suppliers of PACs to TCP/IP and .NET to connect to the reported higher in the enterprise using visory3 GroupPAC Hardware is generally Overview credited with Many OEMsSystems and (EMS) end users of auto- and auxiliary control systems to the have produced complete suites of Web and the enterprise.www.advantech.com/eA It is this abil- integrated4 hardware and software.

3 coiningPAC Hardware the Overview name PAC, and analyst mation systems and controls work in automation software and control cen- programming software tools to en- ity of the PAC to usewww.advantech.com/eA standard and 4 Craig Resnick defines a PAC as having more than one domain. For example, ters and from there to the enterprise these characteristics: even a highly process oriented plant management systems themselves. De-facto Communication & IT Standards - Multi-domain functionality, in- such as a fine chemical manufacturer Utilization of Modbus, Ethernet, Internet and IT standards such as FTP, Web Server, Email Alarm and OPC cluding logic, motion, drives and pro- has requirements within the plant Single Database Functionality Factory Automation (FA) cess on a single platform. for motion control, packaging, inven- One of the significant differences - Common tagging and a single da- tory management, and automated between PLCs and PACs is the way tabase. identification systems, as well as they handle input/output functions. ADAM-5000/TCP - Software tools that allow design continuous and batch process control PLCs constantly scan all the I/O in by process flow across several ma- requirements. The need to integrate their systems continuously at a very HMI chines or process units. Laboratory Information Management high scan rate. While this enables very

- Open, modular architectures that Systems (LIMS) and Process Analyzer fast I/O response, it also limits the ADAM-5550 ADAM-6000 mirror industry applications from ma- Technology (PAT) Initiatives, and sam- number of I/O points a PLC system can SCADA Software With Modbus Driver chine layouts in factories to unit opera- pling initiatives around the plant have handle. PACs, by contrast, use Machinea logical Automation (MA) tions in process plants. made it necessary to network multiple address system and a single tagname ADAM-6501 ADAM-6520 - De-facto standards for network in- domains. database very similar to traditional ADAM-5000/485 terfaces and languages, etc., allowing A PAC can be used in a wide va- SCADA and DCS systems. Thus, a PAC data exchange as part of networked riety of applications in a wide set of can identify and map I/O points as ADAM-5510KW ADAM-4000 multi-vendor systems. domains within the manufacturing en- needed. Modbus I/O Intelligent Transportation These characteristics taken alone terprise from inside the facility man- SystemsThe fact (ITS) that PACs handle I/O and or together are the reasons why PAC agement system, in the environmental data in the same manner as traditional Monitor & Control Center ADAM-4501

3 PAC Hardware Overview www.advantech.com/eA 4 Technology Forum

systems like ATMs, POS terminals, advantages of IP surveillance include ing power and broadband become ma- Exploring medical devices, gaming systems and the integration of various applica- ture, the first beneficiary will be video in-vehicle devices. tions on the IP network. There is an surveillance. What is the so-called excellent example from Japan. Japan business model? A quote from What Third Stage: The IP World Rakuten provides a set of integrated Management Is? by Joan Magretta ex- Video Surveillance Trends In David C. Moschella’s Waves of videos and various IP-based services plains it as “a set of assumptions about Power, the development of the informa- connected with rebroadcasts of sports how an organization will perform by The ceaseless advancement of computing power and tion era is divided into four periods, games through the broadband net- creating value for all the players on network bandwidth is driving the increasingly dynamic the System Period, the PC Period, the work. Through different cameras on which it depends, not just its custom- video surveillance industry. This article describes some Network Period, and the Content Pe- the field, users watching the sports ers.” For example, Amazon.com, eBay, riod, in which the value of the Network game through the IP network can iTunes, and even controversial peer-to- key technology trends that you cannot ignore if you want Period refers to the prevalence and choose to view the game with cameras peer music sharing are all representa- to take advantage of the new business opportunities cre- availability of broadband network con- from different angles. Moreover, they tives of value chain business model in- ated by the evolution of digital video surveillance. nections. We are presently between can also obtain information relevant novation that subverted the tradition. the Network Period and the Content to the game instantly, replay certain Market and technology boundar- Script by Aaron Yeh, Product Manager, Digital Video Platform Division of Advantech Period. The transmission of video moments of the game, or search the ies have been broken to create totally Photographs provided by Advantech streams through IP networks will offensive and defensive records of the different industries from traditional unquestionably become another focus players. These functions are integrated telecommunication service companies. of integration. New terms, such as IP in one screen. For example, Skype or the latest 3G ver since the 9/11 terrorist attack, a large amount of video data effec- entire automated facility or the IT in- surveillance or network video, are rep- mobile phones create a whole new ser- Esecurity has become a major issue tively. Therefore, the first stage of inte- frastructure. The use of standard x86 resentatives of such integration. Fourth Stage: Business Innovation vice model. Therefore, the influence of in the technology field. After digital gration is based on three digital video hardware and operating systems such The most direct change brought and Video Surveillance service models that subvert the tradi- technology was adopted by the video technologies: capture and digitization, as Windows XP or Linux make digital about by IP networks will be replacing As technology progresses from the tional value chain in the video surveil- surveillance industry a few years ago, efficient compression and storage & video easy to integrate with vertical traditional peer-to-peer coaxial cable Network Period to the Content Period, lance industry will be something that 18 the development of this industry was playback of compressed video. applications. with an integrated IP network, but the the impact of innovation on business needs to be considered by all video 19 MyAdvantech gradually influenced by the IT market The digitalization of video process- In the past, Advantech provided its impacts are not limited to this. The models is tremendous. When comput- surveillance companies. MyAdvantech and its technologies. This influence is ing and storage has opened a boom- clients with a distributed control I/O set to grow with the ceaseless advance- ing market for digital video recorders and industrial computing platform as ment of computing power and network (DVR), which offer significantly in- the automation solution. Once digital bandwidth, so the connection or even creased functionality over traditional video became prevalent, digital video the integration of video surveillance VCRs. The popular standalone DVR became synchronized with factory au- and IT industries will undoubtedly be is a good example. CODEC technolo- tomation, so data and control streams the future trend. In the following arti- gies such as Motion JPEG, Wavelet, could simultaneously flow to an inte- cle, we will walk you through the four MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 or H.264 grated backend IT system. With the

stages of the integration of the video for higher compression ratios are key integration of alarm and video surveil- Industrial surveillance and IT industries. technologies in DVRs. Even though lance systems, Advantech’s clients can Building Automation Video System these technologies require higher respond to emergencies and carry out Coaxial First Stage: The Digitalization of computing power, with the ceaseless follow-up analysis more effectively by Facility Ethernet Ethernet Video Processing and Storage advancement of the semiconductor using video image analysis when an Control RS485/232 The basic components of video production process, these technologies event occurs. surveillance are video cameras; cables have gradually been applied in main- From the IT perspective, the main Facility Management for video signal transmission; image stream markets. focus of this stage is on software for processing and storage devices; and video recognition, e-map, intelligent display and backend management sys- Second Stage: Connecting Video information searching, alarm monitor- tems. Traditional video surveillance Surveillance to the Digital World ing and control, object tracking, etc. A Video Capture Digital I/O Industrial Server Farm uses CCTV cameras, Coaxial cables, In this stage, many new PC-based system like this will need to be com- Analog I/O Counter Computing Storage Server VCRs and TV monitors. The first step DVR applications are created by inte- prised of OCX or SoftLogic modules Environment Monitoring of integration with the IT industry is grating video surveillance with a back- for specialized backend integration. In the digitalization of processing and end information system. Taking factory addition to the factory automation, we Various Access Integrated Backend IT Vertical Applications eVideo & eAutomation System storage. Video data uses an enormous automation as an example, video sur- now have more and more requirements Control Devices Control Center amount of storage space, so video com- veillance is no longer an independent from vertical applications to integrate pression technology is needed to store monitoring system, but a part of an digital video functions into embedded The Integrated Structure of Video Surveillance & Factory Automation Technology Forum PICMG 1.3 Brings a Quantum Leap Generally, the purpose of a new standard is to solve existing technical issues. The SHB Express (PICMG 1.3) specification not only breaks through certain present limitations, but also brings in impressive functional advancement. It is believed that SHB Express will become the IPC mainstream standard in the near future.

Script & images provided by Advantech

Advantech’s enhanced thermal design Conventional thermal design

s technology evolves, parallel bus Supporting advanced agement enables systems to run cooler addressing model as PCI/PCI-X, so ex- Advantech Server-class Backplanes Ainterconnects established by the I/O connectors for extended product life, longer MTBF isting drivers, operating systems and Slots Per Segment PICMG 1.0 and 1.2 standards have SHB Express brings SATA, USB 2.0, and reduced RMA costs. applications software can still be used. BP Model Segments PCIe PCI-X PCI 20 been running into inherent bandwidth Gigabit Ethernet and Intelligent Plat- This backward compatibility protects x16 x8 X4 X1 64/66 64/100 64/133 21 MyAdvantech limitations, especially when designing form Management Bus (IPMB) to the Leveraging commercially available, previous investments in PCI/PCI-X PCE-7B06V-04A1E 1 ------4 MyAdvantech systems using today’s high throughput backplane to save the cost of expansion off-the-shelf I/O cards technology while facilitating a smooth PCE-7B06V-30A1E 1 - 2 - - - 2 1 I/O devices and chipsets. The SHB cards. This also reduces the number SHB Express enables commercially transition to PCI Express. PCE-7B06-04A1E 1 - 1 - - - - - 4 Express specification has arisen to of pin headers on CPU cards for more available, off-the-shelf PCI Express pe- correct data bottlenecks by replacing board layout space while simplifying ripheral cards to be used in industrial Advantech’s SHB Express Solutions PCE-7B08-04A1E 1 - 2 1 - - - - 4 parallel PCI/PCI-X buses with serial internal cabling for enhanced airflow computing platforms. This key advan- Today, Advantech is extending lead- PCE-7B13-64B1E 1 - 2 - - 4 2 - 4 PCI Express links from the System and system reliability. Reduced com- tage over PICMG 1.0 enables designers ership in the single board computer PCE-7B13D-04A1E 2 - 1 or 2 - - - - - 4 Host Board (SHB) to backplane. Differ- plexity and modular design together to leverage commercially available market by building the most compre- PCE-7B19-88A1E 1 - 2 - - 8 - - 8 ent configurations of PCIe x1, x4, x8, result in faster MTTR. solutions and significantly broaden the hensive family of RoHS compliant SHB PCE-7B16Q-02A1E 4 - 1------2 and x16 links, as well as advanced fea- application scope of their SHB Express Express solutions. Advantech’s total tures such as IPMI, Serial ATA, USB, More efficient power management systems. For example, designers can solutions include System Host Boards, Advantech Graphics-class Backplanes and Ethernet connections are defined While previous standards only choose from the latest high-perfor- the largest selection of backplanes, a to boost overall system performance. defined signals for AT compatible mance PCI Express x16 graphics cards full line of chassis, as well as support Slots Per Segment BP Model Segments PCIe PCI-X PCI The SHB Express specification brings power supplies, SHB Express defines to enable SHB Express to handle new for all peripherals. Advantech also of- x16 x8 X4 X1 64/66 64/100 64/133 all the advantages of PCI Express, and ATX and BTX power management medical imaging applications. fers comprehensive compatibility and PCE-5B06V-04A1E 1 ------4 opens the door to the next generation signals to support the ACPI power testing services, meaning system de- of industrial computing platforms. management standard. SHB Express Maintaining backwards signers can source all of their system PCE-5B05V-30A1E 1 - - - - 2 2 1 supplies 500 W via the backplane to compatibility with PCI and PCI-X requirements from a single, one-stop PCE-5B06-04A1E 1 ------4 Expanding throughput with high- support today’s latest power hungry PCI, PCI-X and PCI Express periph- vendor, significantly reducing develop- PCE-5B06-00A1E 1 - - - 4 - - - - speed, high-bandwidth serial links CPUs without extra power connectors. erals can all be used in SHB Express ment time and costs. PCE-5B07-04A1E 1 - 1 1 - - - - 4 By leveraging point-to-point serial Furthermore, enhanced power man- systems. PCI Express shares the same PCE-5B12-64B1E 1 - - - - 4 2 - 4 PCI Express technology, SHB Express Advantech’s SHB Express design is capable of scaling all the way up to PCI-ISA (PICMG 1.0) SHB Express (PICMG 1.3) policy provides clear solutions that en- PCE-5B13-08A1E 1 1 - - 3 - - - 8 10,266 MB/s through 20 PCI Express Interface ISA + PCI (32/64-bit) PCI Express (x16 + x4) + PCI-X (32-bit/66 MHz) sure system compatibility. The line-up PCE-5B12D-04A1E 2 1 ------4 lanes and a PCI bus, and in the future, of SHBs and backplanes cover all ma- Bandwidth 538 MB/s 10,266 MB/s (10 GB/s) PCE-5B18-88A1E 1 1 - - - 8 - - 8 beyond that. jor market segments, from high-end PCE-5B16Q-02A1E 4 1 ------2 Technology Forum

server-class solutions to graphic inten- bracket for improved system-wide vi- 1U to 7U rackmount and wallmount sive products. Customers can easily bration tolerance. chassis, and a new chassis specifically recognize specific solutions accord- designed for SHB Express. ing to their product class. Customers Advantech SHB Express backplane requiring server-class solutions may solutions feature strong expansion Advantech’s core competence is choose the “PCE-7000” series SHBs capabilities and are the industry’s all about building comprehensive, yet with “PCE-7B00” series backplanes. most comprehensive. Ranging from highly integrated computing platforms. For excellent graphics performance, four slots up to nineteen slots for 4U Unified pin assignments and I/O port customers can select the “PCE-5000” to 7U rackmount and wallmount chas- locations ensure compatibility and series SHBs with “PCE-5B00” series sis, and butterfly types for 1U/2U expandability for system upgrades. backplanes. rackmount chassis, these backplanes Industrial grade mechanical design fea- Advantech’s precise naming policy allow optimized system configurations tures include specially designed rubber offers clear purchasing guidelines that with flexible combinations of PCIe (x1, mounts for SHB card anti-vibration pro- help prevent incorrect or incompat- x4, x8 and x16), PCI-X and 32-bit/33 tection and an angled CPU heat sink ible SHB and backplane combinations. MHz PCI slots. For added flexibility, and fan that works with chassis fans In addition, Advantech’s SHBs are Advantech provides a quick, low-cost to boost cooling performance. These designed to be securely fixed to the and professional backplane design enhancements increase MTBF, extend chassis with a specially designed front service. Advantech also offers versatile operating life and lower TCO.

Industrial Grade Graphics Cards 22 MyAdvantech for Flexible Applications

Advantech has announced a complete portfolio of industrial grade graphics cards to give customers more flexibility in their multimedia applications. All PCI Express graphics cards are low-profile and are powered by XGI Volari™ XP10 GPUs with 128 MB of DDR VRAM. The PCA-5680-59 has a PCIe x16 interface and supports two high-quality DVI-I interfaces in one high density DMS-59 connector for precision image and color display. The PCA-5680-00 has a PCIe x16 interface and supports DVI-I and VGA outputs for mainstream applications. The PCA-5660 has a PCIe x1 interface and supports a DVI-I output for cost-effective entry-level display applications. In the legacy PCI and AGP interface sector, the PCA-5630 is quipped with a hance legacy motherboard 2D/3D per- VGA and DVI connectors to provide XGI Volari V3XE GPU, 128 MB of DDR formance. The PCA-5612 is equipped basic display functionality. All cards VRAM and an AGP 4X interface. It with an XGI Volari Z9s, 32 MB of DDR2 are fanless and come with Advantech’s supports VGA and DVI outputs to en- VRAM and a PCI interface. It supports well-known longevity and reliability. Special Report

ments and sheet-stone roadbeds, heat- Extraordinary Wonders on the conducting tubes, thermal insulation and other new technologies to keep permafrost temperatures at a consis- tent level, improve roadbed stability and ensure safety. Upon completion, the Qingzang Railway management Tibetan Plateau also installed a system to monitor tun- Many tourists thronged to the train passageway to take in the magnificent view dra rail-bed, vegetation, climate and of the Tibetan Plateau as the Qingzang Railway huffed to pick up speed, heading into possible landscape variations along the the boundless land that seems to stretch skyward. These railway constructions that line to better guard against accidents. took years to build have been successfully translated into a technological miracle. Mystical and Spectacular Landscapes Script by Li Liwen | Translation by Shannon Hu | Photographs provided by Taiwan Digital Images The Qingzang Railway is the world’s longest and highest rail line. The sublime sights in this snowy nown as “the roof of the world,” Golmud, at 815 kilometers in length, power the train all the way to Lhasa. Every kind of amenity to ensure used when the press alludes to the country provide tourists a fantastical, Kthe Tibetan Plateau is a natural was inaugurated in 1984. The newer This custom-made diesel railcar for the passenger comfort - oxygen genera- Qingzang Railway. The tundra is a surreal experience. It’s no wonder Paradise on Earth that is pristinely section of the 1,142 kilometer railway Qingzang Railway is powerful enough tor, blowers (ducted mechanical fans), focus of world attention that poses a that since its inauguration, ticket beautiful. This unique topography and between Golmud and Lhasa was com- to drive the train all the way up to refuse compactors, fire alarms, storage technological dilemma hotly debated availability has been slim. climate have formed a special people missioned in 2006. This long, winding Tanggula train station at an altitude of rooms, and couchettes - comes with by international experts. The soil on The Tibetan Plateau, at an altitude and an unfathomable way of life in rail line is more than just a miracle of 5,072 meters. 3-language signage. Quality waste the Plateau freezes and hardens like of more than 4,000 meters, is sur- harmonious communion with Mother Chinese transportation architecture; It’s a 20-hour ride from Xining to treatment is a key element among all an ice block during winter, hence the rounded by towering mountain ranges. Nature and grounded steadfastly on it also represents a triumph of tech- Lhasa. The train provides everything facilities on the train to safeguard name, permafrost or tundra. Yet as the It is bordered to the west and south by the serenity and assurance of their nology. The lovely lakes, expanses of travelers need in an aim to keep pas- the ecology of the Plateau. A vacuum temperature drops, the tundra swells the Himalayas and to the northwest by 24 religion. The Plateau’s remarkable grasslands, magnificent tundra, gla- sengers’ spirits high over the long ride. waste collection system with sewage dramatically, and elevates just about the Kunlun Range. We get a glimpse 25 MyAdvantech make up and reclusiveness, clothed ciers and mountains will fill you with There are dining cars, baggage cars, and waste containers is installed on every building in the region; but dur- of Tuotuo River, the fountainhead of MyAdvantech with a riveting, ethereal magic, lures a awe as you travel through the inspir- hard and soft sleeping cars with bunk each train. The waste is gathered by ing summer, buildings dip into the the Yangtze River; Qinghai Lake with multitude of visitors from modern me- ing wilderness on the greatest railway beds and engine controllers to keep local treatment cars as soon as trains earth as the tundra thaws out with the its sparkling surface and endangered tropolises and civilizations to explore journey on earth. the trains properly air-conditioned. arrive at their destination, keeping the rising temperature. Tibetan antelopes; Kunlun Range Tun- its secrets. The birth of the Qingzang One of the greatest distinguishing rail line clean. Several measures where taken to nel, the longest permafrost tunnel in Railway has significantly bridged the Crossing the Highlands features of the train is that it operates tackle these problems. First of all, the the world; the mysterious Snow Moun- distance between tourists and the Roof and Mountains at high altitude, so oxygen supply con- Architectural Magic on the Plateau architects averted building the rail tain and glaciers at Tanggula Moun- of the World. The traction engine for powering nectors and oxygen generator control- The harsh, inhospitable climate lines in geologically complex areas. tain; and distinctive Tibetan temples. The railway stretches 1,957 kilome- the line between Chengdu and Golmud lers are properly installed in the cars and permafrost areas on the Plateau Secondly, bridges were built across Every view strikes an emotional chord ters from Xining to Lhasa. The section is the Class SS7 electric locomotive; to help passengers to get over altitude pose a tremendous challenge to rail- unstable tundra regions. Thirdly the that leaves a permanent imprint in of the railway between and Xining and and a NJ2 diesel railcar is used to sickness. ways. The word, “tundra” is frequently architects used ventilative embank- your heart. JoyfulSpecialSpecial eLifestyle Report Report

rently armed with three such large dispatch screens in keeping track of instant operation conditions of the trains at various points. This is made possible through Advantech’s industrial computers exchanging station information and train operation messages from the servers, and output through DAQ modules and output cards, which feed all of this data to specific areas on a large screen through a driver. As a result all the service, track and inter- val information is instantly shown on- screen. Moreover, in the station subsystem applications, Advantech’s industrial- grade computers are used as train service and power supply monitoring terminals. The train service terminals are actually the nucleus of the TDCS subsystem, and their primary task is the production of electronic reports of transportation statistics, displays of 27 the station floor plan, reception and MyAdvantech application of dispatching commands through the TDCS network, data collection of train arrivals and departures, and wireless transmission of engine QINGZANG Railway commands. In the power monitoring Advantech took part in one of the 21st century’s most station, various data is collected from daunting railway constructions yet, breaching the station signal facilities to form the high altitudes of the Tibetan Plateau to provide an array of electronic reports, with instant monitoring of various facility passage across “The Roof of the World”. Advanced Soars Skyward operations to help maintenance crews technology defied harsh climates and Advantech’s TDCS beat to preempt any potential problems or the competition to become the heart of the magnificent Qingzang Railway. glitches for analysis and remediation, and to conduct distance diagnosis and Photos and scripts provided by Advantech | Translated by Shannon Hu | Photographs provided by Taiwan Digital Images and Advantech troubleshooting through the internet.

ubbed “The Roof of the World,” the 5,072 meters above sea level, is the ported thousands of tourists across the The Heart of the Train: TDCS MOR constitutes 14 railway bureaus; Waste Management System DTibetan Plateau is known for its ar- world’s highest railway track. Nearly marvelous expanse of the Tibetan pla- The TDCS consists of a second- the TDCS of every bureau is more or The Tibetan Plateau is part of the idness, low oxygen levels, and extreme 100 Advantech industrial computers teau. The Advantech-developed Train class, three-level Wide Area Network less the same in basic structure. The breathtakingly magnificent Shangri- inhabitability. Despite these obstacles, a are now required to operate tirelessly Dispatching Command System (TDCS), (WAN). The term, “second-class,” re- Qingzang branch has 112 stations in la, the unspoiled “Roof of the World.” section of the railway between Golmud over extended periods of time in this plays a crucial role in controlling rail fers to the Local Area Network (LAN) operation. It’s a primitive, unique and fragile and Lhasa was recently developed using climate, in which the arid weather and traffic, and what’s more, another Ad- of the railway dispatch command cen- Advantech’s industrial computers ecosystem, whose destruction would cutting-edge technology and engineer- low pressure poses severe challenges on vantech brainchild, the world-renowned ter, and the railway bureau’s primary are predominantly applied in the dis- trigger irrevocable disasters. At the ing ingenuity. Out of 1,118-kilometers electronic components. ADAM modules, were extensively ap- area network. The term “three-level” patch centers and the display systems same time, the plateau constitutes of track, 965 km was built at altitudes Since its inauguration on July 1st, plied to the electric monitoring of the includes the Ministry of Railways of the stations. The dispatch center at large tracts of permafrost; rising tem- exceeding 4,000 meters. This stretch 2006, the Qingzang Railway weathered vacuum generator to control the complex (MOR), the railway department, the Qingzang branch, located in Xining peratures on the sides of the rails may includes the Tanggula Pass which, at its first year and successfully trans- waste management system of the train. bureau, and the railway stations. The City of the Qinghai Province, is cur- very well cause the tracks to deform Special Report

or collapse, which is a grave safety Advantech’s ADAM-5510KW, ADAM- puters are still in operation, chalking issue. For environmental protection 5051S + ADAM-5056S + ADAM-5055S up more than 30,000 hours. A total of and safety considerations, trains that + ADAM-4055. The master control 45 stations dotted the railway from enter the plateau are required to have module is used to govern the medium Golmud to Lhasa (inaugurated July, absolutely no emissions of wastewater trunk motions (including the formation 2006); out of these 45, seven stations or waste materials. Advantech’s Soft- of vacuum and evacuation) and waste are outfitted with 3 Advantech indus- logic Digital Controller was subsumed material trunk motions. Additionally, trial computers; the other 38 stations into part of the Qingzang Rail project, the master control module is armed have 2 industrial computers in opera- keeping stringent vigil on the vacuum with a system breakdown alarm with tion, adding up to 99 computers. waste collecting system in every car- display, storage, and signal output Finally, train service terminals at riage bound for Lhasa from Beijing, capabilities (via touchscreen panel the TDCS are placed inside the sta- Chengdu, Zhongqing, and Xining, terminal facility), expediting the main- tion workroom a little more than 10 keeping the 1,118 km line clean and tenance crew’s system inspections. meters away from the tracks. Enor- unblemished. mous vibrations are generated when The vacuum generator waste col- Withstand the Tests of Nature several-thousand-ton trains zoom pass lecting system pumps wastewater into In May, 2002, the Qingzang Rail the stations. Despite these hardships, a waste materials collection box below Company inaugurated Advantech’s Advantech’s industrial computing Do Over? Done. each carriage. Upon arriving at the TDCS on 69 stations from the existing products have withstood all tests, and stations, the collecting vehicles will Haishiwan to Golmud, using a total of remain successfully operational, earn- pump out the waste and discharge it 215 Advantech industrial computers - ing not only the extensive acclaim of collectively to prevent lavatory refuse predominantly IPC-610’s. In addition to the Chinese Ministry of Railway, but from contaminating the rails. The replacements during station renovation also automation industry professionals monitoring system is composed of works, most of these industrial com- worldwide.

28 MyAdvantech

ADAM-5510KW

COM4/RS485 MODBUS MODBUS Remote I/O Flushing Module 1 ADAM-4055

Remote I/O Flushing Module 2 ADAM-4055 Input/Output Input Module Output Module Relay Module Module ADAM-5051 ADAM-5056S ADAM-5068 ADAM-5055S Flushing Module 1, 2

Function Button System Indicator Cesspit Indicator

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© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, the Windows logo, and “Your potential. Our passion.” are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Inside Advantech

thinking workshop involving a tight- “Scenario Stories,” mainly so they can lenging, highly volatile, yet splendidly knit group of experts from both In- compare compelling conceptions and planned process – with rewarding dustry and Academia, all of whom are circumstantial conditions, all with a results.” He added, “we often experi- united in the desire to co-operate and view to proposing potential solutions ence some sense of confinement when achieve real results. to the most likely problems. Of course, we look at our own designs. But the Advantech and industrial designers the final objective of all this intensive students, who have no prior inkling from UDDC (Union Design & Develop- work is to produce a specific design about our products, always manage ment Corp.) joined forces with univer- blueprint. to surprise us with refreshing ideas sity students to establish an experi- Advantech engineers and students whenever they study them.” He dis- mental “product development team.” factored in various unique possibili- covered that youngsters are almost Advantech’s role was to “toss up” some ties into their Workshop discussions never shy about articulating questions new product themes, giving students and research. For example, students and thoughts that would effectively the opportunity to bounce design ideas questioned why the USB sockets of challenge Advantech’s design team. to and fro. Obviously, the object was to Advantech’s existing monitor computer The result was that the engineers and encourage students to let their creativi- systems are installed with a plug-like technicians were obliged to answer the ty run free. Of course, their sometimes cap. Advantech’s engineers explained students’ questions with polite profes- outlandish, sometimes clever product that industrial computers may be sionalism, and together, they assess concepts were carefully reviewed by exposed to dust, water drops or oil the market-worthiness and potential of professionals at both Advantech and residues – in just about any scenario. the products. UDDC. The ultimate result was a se- In light of these facts, Advantech en- The most successful and product de- lection of products that presented a gineers had already designed a liquid- velopment process will always take into Building a Hothouse for wonderful marriage of originality, high and dust-proof cap to protect USB account the end-user’s requirements, business value and economic benefit. sockets. Engineers reported that they expectations and demands – instead of 30 often used either their own nails or going out on a blind hunt to build effica- 31 MyAdvantech Back to the Basics: coins to open the cap. From this obser- cious products and attain technological MyAdvantech the Next Great Invention Product Users are the Nucleus vation, some students cleverly inferred breakthroughs by chance, accident or The spirit of any successful product that the caps should be attached to the even, through good luck. lies in the idea that it meets the ex- computers on a connectable string so In a characteristically generous pectations of users. However, product that, if removed, the taps would not be move, Advantech invited academic ex- development endeavors sometimes misplaced or lost. perts to come along and help organize inadvertently fall into competitive In such scenarios, the students the “Early Design Workshop” into an Early Design Workshop dead ends if caught up in a fierce mar- – as amateur IPC engineers – are of- even more effective vehicle for edify- Script by Zhuang Anhua | Translation by Shannon Hu | Photograph provided by Advantech ket “tug-of-war,” between competing ten more likely to consider computer ing the participation of the students, models, for example, without actually design from the user’s point of view; and to better engage their learning. satisfying real customer demands. and their critical, and hopefully con- The results opened a creative window In this age when the customers’ demands come before everything whenever our new product The “Early Design Workshop” structive, thinking is also more likely of opportunity for everyone. else, the million-dollar question remains: “What’s the next big ‘Thing’ is used?” Based on sensible presented the perfect vehicle for to overcome any limitations that may Participants in the most recent projections that satisfy the stimulating innovative practices and have been placed on the engineer’s “Early Design Workshop” focused on product that can hit the market, and still withstand the test of time?” scenarios, the next step is to conscientious, user-centric thinking original design; in this way, invention developing workable prototypes and Interestingly enough, popular products often target the unspoken build a prototype. Of course, – all backed by thorough studies of proceeds towards what is often the mock-ups. These prototypes effectively needs of clients, and usually, the best products go out of their way to one must attempt to defy all various application scenarios. One of simplest or most creatively efficient assist the product team to make de- meet demands, and appeal with the utmost business value. the negative precedents and the most effective techniques applied solution. The Advantech engineers liberate and comprehensive decisions avoid stereotypes, and final- by the Workshop is to encourage stu- took inspiration from the students and before officially launching products, ly, rid the design model of dents to adopt a “macro” perspective, modified their design accordingly. mainly to cut down risks and to econo- ny business aspiring to an invention as simplistic yet every unnecessary excess. Then, the project can be wrapped and from this all-encompassing point mize on lost time. Aas sensational as the iPod, should take great pains to up through repeated tests and modifications. Finally, one of view, students are asked to conduct Breaking Away from Creative To date, over a dozen Advantech clearly discern what the end-users really want. This might might unveil the next market leading “big thing” that will a more focused analysis that targets Confinement and Convention products have gone through this re- be easier said than done, but there are certainly ways and “wow” the entire world. various user groups according to Jonney Chang, Product Manager of generative process of study and re- means of clever investigation. If he or she is using their The object of the “Early Design Workshop” aims to various social, lifestyle and economic the Industrial Automation Group, who invention – and all of the innovations head, a designer first addresses questions like: “which fulfill the goals described above. Inaugurated in 2006, the criteria. Next, the workshop partici- helped to lead the first Workshop, de- were grounded in the students’ origi- needs will arise, and under which particular scenarios, workshop is a twice-a-year event that provides a forward- pants progress to develop application scribed the experience as a “very chal- nal designs. Inside Advantech

am responsible for sales and building alliances with strategic partners Iin the SRP (Service-Ready Platform) market segment in North America. I listen very carefully to our customers’ requirements and then help them find solutions using Advantech products. After that, I work with our product divisions to make sure that our future products have the right features at the right times. In my nearly 30 years in the electronics industry, I have been fortunate to meet and interact with key people at companies like Samsung, Motorola, Apple, and Sony-Ericsson. Their examples have shaped how we approach our customers today. I grew up in Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley and attended college at Or- egon State University. I studied chemical engineering, music, and French. I’ve been lucky enough to visit many other parts of the world, but the mid- Willamette valley is still one of my favorite places – no matter what time year, it’s always green. I play the piano, starting when I was 7. I studied classical music through college, and also learned to compose, to improvise and to play jazz. I also love to cook. I enjoy the satisfaction of planning a meal, imagining how the various flavors and textures will go together, then preparing the Henry Nielsen dishes and sharing them with my wife and our friends. I often adapt classic Business Development Manager French or Italian dishes to reduce fat and calories without sacrificing flavor. My wife Janet and I both love to travel. There are many places in the Advantech USA world that we enjoy visiting, but usually the place I want to go next is some- where I haven’t yet visited.

32 33 MyAdvantech MyAdvantech

y first experience with Advantech products was back in 2000 while I was a Mstudent of the Federal University of Itajuba. I was impressed with the countless possibilities offered by technologies for enriching and advancing our lives. When I first joined Advantech in 2003, I was employed as an Applied Engineer. Now, I am in charge of developing the emerging ePlatform business in Latin America. Working with both the HQ and Brazilian teams, I develop and implement new strategies to meet the demand of the Latin American market. It is a very price sensitive market, so analyzing trend-setting industries and then delivering the best value to our customers is my goal. Today, the scenario in Latin America looks very promising; the region is growing and so is the demand from SI’s for Advantech products in traditional markets like medical devices, gambling and transportation. Moreover, new business models along with new production of boards in CKD (complete knock down) have given us a capacity to attack new markets in Brazil including commercial and banking automation. Star products like Digital Signage has received enthusiastic acceptance from the market too. Combining all these exciting opportunities together with the traditional Industrial PC market will inspire us to achieve new expansion in several new directions. I would like to take this opportunity to invite my Advantech colleagues to visit Latin America in their free time. You are welcome to visit us, and get to know the Lucas Toledo culture of this huge and rich continent, full of amazing cities and attractions like the Product Sales Manager Amazon river, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Machu Picchu, Fernando de Noronha, Advantech Brazil Iguazu Falls and Brazil’s annual street Carnival. The positive, optimistic populace of South America is always quick and eager to receive people from around the world. OCT 2-4 OCT 9-12 OCT 17-18

ISA Expo MILIPOL Embedded Systems Houston, TX USA Paris, France Show Event Birmingham, UK Hall: Main Hall: 7 Calendar Booth: 2152 Booth: 3M121 Hall: 10 Booth: 700

OCT 29-31 OCT 30-31 OCT 31- NOV 2 NOV 6-7

MILCOM 2007 Assembly East Safety & Security Remote Monitoring and Orlando, FL, USA Boston, MA, USA Asia 2007 Networking Suntec City, Singapore Scottsdale, AZ, USA Booth: 635 Hall: Main Booth: 748 Hall: 4 Hall: Main Booth: 4E-18 Booth: 202

NOV 13-15 NOV 14-17 NOV 14-17

Global Gaming Expo Embedded Technology Medica 2007 Las Vegas, NV, USA Kanagawa, Japan Dusseldorf, Germany

Hall: 15 Hall: Main Booth: C47 Booth: 317, 538

NOV 25-30 Nov 27-29 NOV 27-30 DEC 11-13

RSNA 2007 SPS/IPC/DRIVES ControlAsia 2007 Power-Gen International 34 Chicago, IL, USA Nuremberg, Germany Suntec City, Singapore New Orleans, LA, USA MyAdvantech

Booth: 3151 Hall: 8 Hall: 4 Hall: Main Booth: 428 Booth: 4C4-12 Booth: 4774

Intel. Powering an Industrial Revolution.

Intel provides a full range of components and platforms to meet the demands of the digital factory— from Test & Measurement devices and advanced Human-Machine Interfaces to Industrial PCs and Factory Automation & Control systems. Intel’s embedded lifecycle products provide the real-time operation and energy efficient performance of processors based on Intel® Core™ microarchitecture. Create your own revolution with Intel’s advanced platform technologies, development tools, and an ecosystem of leading third-party vendors—including members of the Intel® Communications Alliance. Visit us online today. The industrial revolution is about to begin.

www.intel.com/go/industrial

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