Siemens Mobile Panel with Wireless Operator Control

Siemens Automation and Drives has released the SIMATIC Mobile Panel 277F IWLAN. It is billed as the first wireless human-machine interface (HMI) to incorporate two enabling buttons and an emergency stop button into its design that are tested and certified to meet SIL3 safety standards

When configuring the device, the user is supported by the WinCC flexible 2007 engineering software to define “effective ranges” in which the machine can be controlled by the operator.

A transponder limits the effective ranges in which the device can be identified locally. According to Siemens, this provides fail-safe operator control and clear assignment of the appropriate operating screens and operator authorizations anywhere in the plant. The transponder can also be used to define zones in which certain functions are configured, such as automatic on-screen display or operator authorizations for particular persons when they enter the zone.