Web-based visualization system sets new standards for industrial operator control and monitoring
October 29, 2019
At the “SPS – Smart Production Solutions” 2019, Siemens will present a completely new overall system for industrial operator control and monitoring. The web-based visualization system consists initially the Simatic WinCC Unified visualization software as well as the new generation of HMI panels, Simatic HMI Unified Comfort Panels. The new system provides the user with a solution for HMI and SCADA applications, and in the future also for Industrial Edge, Cloud and Augmented Reality scenarios.
At the “SPS– Smart Production Solutions” 2019, Siemens will present a completely new overall system for industrial operator control and monitoring. The web-based visualization system consists initially the Simatic WinCC Unified visualization software as well as the new generation of HMI panels, Simatic HMI Unified Comfort Panels.
The runtime of the newly developed visualization software Simatic WinCC Unified in the TIA (Totally Integrated Automation) Portal is based on native Web technologies such as HTML5, SVG and JavaScript. The high scalability of the newly platform enables end-to-end solutions, from machine-level applications all the way to the SCADA system.
When designing the system, Siemens focused on the overall openness. For this purpose, open API interfaces such as TIA Portal Openness were implemented which enable automated engineering, on the one hand, and considerably simplify data exchange during operation, on the other hand. For this, an ODK (Open Development Kit) and an OpenPipe interface are available to the user, as well as the option to integrate other applications into the user interface of WinCC Unified.
Engineering is consistently integrated in the TIA Portal, the engineering framework with modern programming languages and seamless data flow. Components created once can be re-used on all platforms, whether on the operator panel, on the PC or as apps in the Cloud- and Edge environment. WinCC Unified Runtime can be accessed via all modern Internet browsers without the installation of separate plug-ins. In the first version, WinCC Unified is available for Panel- and PC-based solutions. The use of WinCC Unified in the Edge- and Cloud environment will be possible in a later delivery stage.
With the Simatic WinCC Unified system, Siemens will present a new generation of high-end HMI devices at the SPS 2019: The Simatic HMI Unified Comfort Panels are available in display sizes from 7 to 22 inches, have a glass front with capacitive multitouch technology, and offer users in the industrial environment a high degree of usability, similar to the operation of a smartphone or tablet. High brilliance in colors and contrast improve readability and operability. Visualization on the devices is based on Simatic WinCC Unified and brings many new possibilities to the devices: Dynamic SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), extensive UI controls or “collaboration”, a convenient mechanism for exchanging data between WinCC Unified stations.
The functional expansion possibilities through apps represent a paradigm shift in the SIMATIC HMI product portfolio. While the HMI panels were used exclusively for the visualization software in the past, Siemens now gives users the possibility with the integrated Edge functionality to also operate other apps on the devices at the same time.
