Abstract:

• JetControl 241 Networking by means of host and remote PC via Ethernet TCP/IP
• 3 WLAN access points distributed across 11 production sheds
• Visualization with JetViewSoft
• Data are directly transmitted from individual controllers via wireless LAN
• Remote maintenance web-site allowing world-wide access
• For troubleshooting, SMS messages can be sent to the mobile phone of the picket service

MC Control GmbH (www.mc-control.ch) has taken on the programming of the application software by means of JetSym ST, as well as creating the visualization interface by means of JetViewSoft.

Core competencies of mc-control are planning and physically establishing complete automation and Web projects. Besides setting up drafts, programming and commissioning of both open and closed-loop controls, mc-control also manages electric engineering and setting up wiring diagrams. Efficient partners help with control cabinet manufacturing and electric installations at the plant.

Criteria in Favor of Jetter AG:

• JetWeb is in line with the current state of the art
• All devices are identical and interchangeable, which means that less spare parts need to be kept in store
• Integration into the IT world is very easy, support for a great range of applications is available
• Browser-based visualization makes fault-finding possible for non-specialists as well
• Thanks to remote servicing via Internet, the staff members will be able to take a vacation again

Technical Description of the Production Plant:

Tending, transport, watering and packing of potted plants is fully automated. The entire system consists of two trolleys moving among the 11 greenhouses over a distance of 180 m. A 3-axis crane can place pallets at 60 positions per greenhouse. Further, there is one watering station per greenhouse which is controlled by a specific centralized PLC. As the former control system had been very interference-prone, the company looked for another solution meeting the following requirements:

• Very stable bus, wireless, if possible
• No master-slave operation, but master-master direct access instead (also to be carried out via PC)
• Programming in high-level language, which should be similar to Visual C++, if possible
• Remote servicing, via Internet, if possible
• PC-visualization directly via Internet-Explorer, if possible
• Short rebuilding phase

The entire control system consists of 14 JetControl 241, which communicate with each other, as well as with the host and the remote PC, by wireless LAN. For this purpose, three access points have been installed, while each control cabinet has been equipped with an Ethernet converter and an antenna. This way, both the crane and trolley controllers (which have been installed on the vehicles) need not "drag along" any cables for the bus system or other purposes. They only need to be supplied via power rail. Positioning and watering tasks are calculated by the host PC, which will then transmit them to specific controllers; these will process their individual tasks independently. Visualization has been physically established by means of JetViewSoft and saved to one of the controllers equipped with an http-server option as an HTML file. This way, the data can be accessed by wireless LAN via Internet/Intranet directly. On the same JetControl 241 an e-mail client has been installed, in order to be able to send error reports to emergency staff any time.

Components used:

Controllers (Jetter):

• JetControl 241: 14

Peripheral modules (Jetter):

• JX2-ID8 22
• JX2-OD8: 16

WLAN components (Orinoco):

• AP-600, IEEE802.11b access points: 3
• Range extender antenna 2.5 dbi: 12
• Ethernet converter: 13
• PC-card World: 11
• Channel Gold: 13

Visualization software (Jetter):

• JetViewSoft

Application software (Jetter):

• JetSym ST

Logistics software (Root)

• PERIGON AGRO