Al Presher

Al Presher is a contributing editor for Design News, specializing in automation and control and writing on automation topics, machine control, robotics, fluid power, and power transmission since 2002. Previously he worked in the electronic motion control field for 18 years, most recently as VP of Marketing for ORMEC Systems Corp (manufacturer of PC-based servo control systems).  Previously, he worked as Editor for Plant Systems and Equipment and Appliance magazines.  He holds an MA in magazine journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Machine Vision Using Ethernet Powerlink

May 30, 2013

Automation & Motion Control

Al Presher

New connectivity between vision systems and automation solutions based on Ethernet Powerlink communications is creating simplified system architectures that enable higher performance application possibilities. According to B&R Automation , the In-Sight 7000 series from Cognex is the first...

Energy Harvesting Wireless Technology

May 28, 2013

Automation & Motion Control

Al Presher

Self-powered wireless switches, sensors, and controls are being utilized in a wide range of building automation and industrial applications, leveraging energy harvesting wireless technology to cut installation costs and enable efficient use of energy. The use of energy harvesting technology,...

The Internet of Things' Impact on Medical Care

May 21, 2013

Automation & Motion Control

Al Presher

Healthcare might seem to be an unlikely target application for the Internet of Things technology, but recent developments show small ways that big-data is going to make an impact on patient care moving into the future. One example is the Aventura Hospital and Medical Center in Aventura, Fla., which...

Peak Sine Drive Controller Packs 15X the Power

May 17, 2013

Automation & Motion Control

Al Presher

Moog's Naval Systems Business Unit has developed a peak sine drive controller that can handle 15 times as much power as its predecessor and is about 500 cubic inches smaller. The new design dramatically increases the amount of available power without increasing controller volume by refining...

Ethernet Drives Networking Advances

May 15, 2013

Automation & Motion Control

Al Presher

Two new introductions in the world of motion drives for automation are moving toward use of standard Ethernet communications, eliminating the use of custom hardware. Unidrive M Open Drive Networking Control Techniques , an Emerson Industrial Automation company, has introduced open Ethernet...

Ethernet Motion Networking to Triple by 2016

May 01, 2013

Automation & Motion Control

Al Presher

Two recent studies by IMS Research (now part of IHS Inc.) highlight the high growth rate of Ethernet motion network, and also the long-term sustainability of fieldbus infrastructures. The use of Ethernet with motor drives and motion controllers is forecast to more than triple in 2016 -- from 1.8...

Mobile Technologyâ€™s Influence on Data Acquisition

April 30, 2013

Automation & Motion Control

Al Presher

Industrial users are starting to expect mobile access to measurement data, according to an article on mobile technology that is part of the recently released " Data Acquisition Technology Outlook 2013 " report from National Instruments (registration required). The report states: The worldwide...

Patching for Industrial Cybersecurity Is a Broken Model

April 25, 2013

Automation & Motion Control

Government/Defense

Al Presher

It's probably not a big surprise, if you stop and think about it, but recent research from Belden Tofino Security confirms that patching is often ineffective in protecting from the multitude of vulnerability disclosures and malware targeting critical infrastructure systems today. Not patching...

New Scale's Piezoelectric Micro Motor Lens Actuator for Micro Cameras

April 22, 2013

Automation & Motion Control

Al Presher

With nearly two billion mobile phones and 800 million digital cameras shipping each year, there has been an ongoing need for faster focus, rapid picture taking, and continuous auto focus for clearer video capture. A key motion technology that has emerged in these applications is piezoelectric micro...

Hannover Highlights Industry 4.0

April 19, 2013

Automation & Motion Control

Al Presher

The buzz at the recent Hannover Messe 2013 centered on a German industry initiative called "Industry 4.0" that automation suppliers believe will lead to increasing digitization, networking, and an ability for manufacturers to leverage productivity advances. The 4.0 reference is what Siegfried...