Live Process Control from an iPhone with ProSoft Technology Industrial Hotspots

ProSoft Technology has announced the support of the Industrial Hotspot series of radios in conjunction with Sweet William Automation’s new ScadaMobile application for the iPhone/iPod platform. The application is designed to provide engineers with access to live process control variables, and the ability to modify this data remotely from their iPhones.

Functionally, the application creates a secure wireless interface between an iPhone device and an existing 802.11 wireless network on the plant-floor, effectively allowing an iPhone device to read Modbus TCP/IP and EtherNet/IP process control variables from Programmable Automation Controllers/ Programmable Logic Controllers (PAC/PLCs) distributed throughout their plants. These live values are displayed in stylized lists and include user-established variance allowances and alarms. Engineers are able to monitor these variables in real time and make adjustments on the fly from an iPhone device.

Cumulative security features are offered by both the iPhone and the Industrial Hotspot radios to prevent unauthorized access to the network. The new 802.11n industrial hotspots feature WPA2-PSK and 802.11i RADIUS security, which prevent unauthorized access and modification to the network. ScadaMobile provides a feature upon configuration which requires the user to assign a matching security code as both a password for network access and as a Security Tag in the CPU. When ScadaMobile launches, the Security Code must match that on the CPU in order to create a connection.