Advanced Tank Automation

[jdeere78]

I am thinking about writing a .NET telnet interface for the Neptune controller. It would give you the ability to read data from probs and control outputs on the controller. I've have been thinking a lot about automation. I really like the stability that a PLC or SCADA system provides but I want to go a lot further with the software and user experience. Here is my ultimate solution. Use PLC/SCADA hardware at the location of the tank. This technology has been around forever and is solid as a rock. I am also contemplating an embedded XP system depending on the hardware interfaces for the probs and sensors. This hardware would sit on an Ethernet network and communicate to an OPC server (O.L.E for Process Control) which basically gives you a COM interface on the PC side. At this point the sky is the limit and I can use .NET to write any further software.

Here are a few links if anyone is interested in OPC and control systems.
http://www.opcfoundation.org/
http://www.opcconnect.com/
http://www.opcconnect.com/ua.php
http://www.control.com/
http://sourceforge.net/projects/modbus-xml
http://www.phidgetsusa.com/

Please post if any of this interests anyone.

[Lutefisk]

I'd be interested in hearing more about the .NET telnet interface.

I've done a lot of Allen Bradley PLC programming but I'm getting most of what I need done with my Neptune AquaController III but would sure like to improve the interface.

Paul

[cwegescheide]

The only thing that I can't do with an ACIII is download data via telnet remotely. Other than that I don't really know what you mean to have more control than you already have.

[Lutefisk]

If he puts together a .NET telenet interface it could allow us to create applications (including webpages) to animate the control system (visually show what lights, pumps, chillers, heaters, etc. are on), set up more extensive control menus, and perhaps do our own data archiving and analysis.

One of the things I'd like to find is a complete set of telnet commands. There are a lot more that are not published (for the purpose of keeping us from hurting ourselves).

I'd like to see the control of the AC III and communication with it opened up. I think that it would give birth to a wealth of applications.

[cwegescheide]

Ahhh I see... OK yeah that would be cool.

[Squiddy]

I am VERY interested in seeing how this goes. For the past while, I have been struggling to get my Modicon PLC talking to LabView over Modbus and the COM port.

I like the idea of .NET and that would be something cool to learn but for now I just wanted to get it working in LabView because it would be very easy to make a nice looking control page.

What are your thoughts on LabView?

[Squiddy]

I do know about the DSC module for LabView which looks like it would do everything that I need but I can't afford the $3000 cost for the upgrade :eek1:. I'm using the Modbus libraries that are available on the National Instruments website.