News

The key difference between preventive maintenance and predictive maintenance is that the latter means completing maintenance only when needed, as opposed to scheduled intervals. With Industry 4.0, manufacturing data will allow us to gradually replace preventive maintenance with predictive maintenance, but can we go further than this? Here, Miron Shtiglitz, VP for Product and Delivery at quality inspection specialist QualiSense, forecasts a future where data from inspection not only underpins maintenance schedules, but informs the very design of the product itself.

Anyone familiar with Industry 4.0 has likely encountered the concept of predictive maintenance. By harnessing the data from machine sensors, we can more accurately predict when maintenance activity is actually required, rather than preserving with the fixed schedules typical of preventive maintenance. Optimising maintenance schedules this way means reduced labour and material costs, or so the theory goes.

Many companies are making great strides in this field and we are more accurately predicting machine health. In my home country of Israel, Augury is a good example of a company working in this area. You build a sensor that is attached to a machine, it collects data on parameters like sound and vibration and uses this data to predict when you need to carry out maintenance.

We have also seen some companies try to do this with cars. By listening to the noises the car makes, you can potentially determine what fault is likely to occur and take preventive action before it is too late.

Level two and three

The data gathered from inspection systems could form an additional layer to this approach. With AI, the data gathered from these intelligent inspection systems could be correlated with data from predictive maintenance technologies.

For example, we might find correlations between the quality of a product and the last time scheduled maintenance activity was performed. In order to make this approach viable, you need very large volumes of data. However, as we enter the era of Big Data, this additional layer opens new possibilities.

Looking slightly further ahead, the data gathered from quality inspection systems and the software that supports them will not only enhance the power of predictive maintenance, it will shape the design of the product itself. By using data to make the correct decisions during the design phase, we can reduce the risk of defects further along.

Imagine, for example, you are able to analyse correlations between the 3D structure of a part, the processes that take place during its manufacture, and the potential for certain defects to result in this scenario. Using this, you can help the mechanical designer make optimal decisions based on the data.

The data could also help design engineers explore different options and their suitability. For example, let’s say an engineer wants to design a part that is thinner in a specific area and use a specific material for this purpose. Using data from other inspected parts, you might extrapolate that using material x at this particular level of thickness leads to an increased incidence of defects, or using a particular process in combination with this material makes it more prone to break.

Although further away, this is a possibility that engineers and AI specialists are already talking about. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘expert system’ and is similar to the Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) that you read about in media headlines.

As we moved beyond the first level of predictive maintenance toward multi-sensor approaches, the world of Big Data will open exciting possibilities. However, this next step is not the final chapter in the story. While we keep one foot planted in the present, we can still imagine a future where intelligent systems not only harness data to optimise maintenance activity, but are capable of fundamentally reshaping the manufacture of the product itself.

QualiSense is an award-winning AI start-up developing software for the machine vision market. To discover more about QualiSense solutions for complex visual inspection application, visit qualisense.ai

The education programme for Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week has been announced with nearly 150 free-to-attend sessions taking place across eight solutions theatres during the live events on 5^th and 6^th June 2024 at Birmingham’s NEC.

The full programme of keynote presentations and other sessions is available at: https://www.mandeweek.co.uk/educational-content-2024. Visitors are encouraged to plan their programme in advance, and this can be easily done using the individual theatre exploration tools available on the website. There are eight solution theatres in total covering the topics of: Digital Transformation, IIoT & Connectivity, Industrial Data & AI, Innovation, Maintenance, Drives & Technology, Air-Tech Solutions, Fluid Power & Systems.

Highlights from the keynote presentations include Neelofar Ansari, Senior Manufacturing Engineer, BAE Systems who is presenting on the intriguing topic of Human Augmentation: Connecting with Manufacturing Environments in the IIoT and Connectivity Theatre on day one. Additionally, Daniel Smalley from Siemens, along with Ian Clarke from InControl Systems, will talk about Demystifying Digitalisation and Growth on day two.

Meanwhile, in the Design & Innovation Theatre, Sam Tilley from Omron will be joined by Carl Diver from Manchester Metropolitan University to give a presentation on day one entitled How does the Skills Gap Affect the Future Technology Sector. Also, Roy Haworth, Head of Digital Mock Up Process and Implementation, Airbus Defence & Space will be talking about Using CAD data to drive data fusion and 3D visualisation on day two.

Elsewhere in the Drives & Technology Theatre David Santos, Head of Manufacturing Engineering & Automation, Chelton will be talking about SMEs and Automation: Overcoming complexity and challenges during and after implementation whereas Krishna Mistry, VP of Series Engineering, Verge Motorcycles will be covering Agile Engineering Cycles: Optimising Design, Development, and Deployment in Manufacturing.

Also appearing in the Drives & Technology Theatre is David Barret-Hague from Schneider who will be joined by Grant Coffin from Rockwell Automation to give a presentation on day one entitled Industrial Automation Trends, Past Present and Future. This is followed on day two by Patrick Dion-Fehily from Mitsubishi Electrics who will be joined by Martyn Williams from COPA DATA to present The Importance of Sustainable Manufacturing.

Visitors to the Digital Transformation Theatre will be able to take in a presentation from Ian Kingstone, UK Director – Strategy & Change, Columbus entitled: Turning Green into Gold: How manufacturers must harness ESG for both the planet and the bottom line.

Also happening in the Industrial Data and AI Theatre is a technical discussion that will include real data from robot applications including welding, aerospace drilling and additive manufacturing. Entitled How IONA improves robot performance and why this is essential for modern-day manufacturing and presented by Craig Davey, COO – INSPHERE this session is suitable for anyone working within robots and automation.

Bringing together many of the common headaches in the maintenance sector is a presentation from Lewis Bratcher of ERIKS Industrial Services in the Maintenance Theatre entitled Improving productivity by changing the MRO supply chain dynamics. This presentation presents the findings of the 2023 Indirect Supply Chain Survey and the subsequent report, The MRO Supply Chain that was produced in association with the IET.

Meanwhile, in the Air-Tech Theatre Alice Quinn, Senior Manufacturing Technology Engineer, 3M will be talking about Why IT/OT Projects Fail whereas Ioana Hera, Head of Improvement, Rolls Royce will be presenting on Harmonising People, Skills, and Technology: The Path to Manufacturing Innovation and Efficiency.

Additionally, in the Fluid Power Theatre Colin Guttridge, Principal Manufacturing Engineer, Baker Hughes will be talking about Navigating the People and Skills Landscape in Manufacturing and Engineering whereas Dale Crow, Electricity & Automation Leader, Nestle will be covering Leveraging Technology to Maximise Functionality and Performance.

As well as the free to attend educational content there are also two summits that run alongside the exhibitions namely the Industrial Data and AI Summit and the Manufacturing Digitalisation Summit. Now in its 7th year the Industrial Data & AI Summit takes place on the 5th of June and focuses on Data Management and Data Insights. The structure of the summit includes four keynote presentations, a panel discussion and two 60-minute roundtable discussion sessions. The summit allows senior leaders to hear from the sector’s most respected experts as well as to share their knowledge and experiences with their peers. The roundtable sessions offer a unique opportunity for in-depth discussions on topics ranging from Data Integration and Management to Developing a Data Driven Business to Generative AI.

Taking place on both the 5th and 6th June is The Manufacturing Digitalisation Summit. This summit includes eight keynote presentations, two panel discussions and four 60-minute roundtable discussion sessions. The Summit focuses on how digitalisation is changing the way in which products are designed, produced, used and maintained as well as transforming the operations, processes and energy footprints of factories and supply chains. This summit is broken down into two streams, the Enterprise stream is for those working within businesses with revenues more than £100 million while the Growth stream is for those less than £100 million (theoretically classed as SMEs).

As well as the two summits, the Automation & Robotics Accelerator Symposium, taking place on 6th June, is intended for manufacturing executives interested in leveraging automation and robotics within their organisations. This half-day event, organised by The Manufacturer, focuses on the implementation and optimisation of automation to drive business growth. It’s an essential event for those at any stage of automation integration, offering insights into best practices, technology deep dives, and the impact of automation on the workforce. Attendees will benefit from discussions on a range of sectors including aerospace, automotive, and FMCG.

In addition to the education programme a myriad of other activities will be taking place at Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week. The main days are 5 – 6 June 2024 with Smart Factory Expo, Design & Engineering Expo and Maintec in Hall 4 at the NEC and Drives & Controls, Fluid Power & Systems and Air-tech in Hall 5.

Other exhibitions are also taking place at the NEC during the week, and these include TCT 3Sixty from Rapid News Group and Subcon from the Mark Allen Group. A single visitor registration to Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week 2024 provides access to these co-located expos.

To register for a free pass please visit: www.mandeweek.co.uk

Fluke Corporation, a global technology leader in the manufacture of compact, professional electronic test and measurement tools and software, recently hosted an award ceremony celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Premium partnership with CalPlus GmbH.

A leading German specialist distributor for test and measurement equipment and the leading supplier of calibrators for electrical quantities and temperature, CalPlus was formed in 1999 by former employees of Fluke. Today, the company serves customers in all areas of the German economy, including colleges, universities, research institutes and authorities, and is headquartered in Berlin.

The success of the longstanding, historical partnership between the two companies is down to the extensive technical knowledge that the CalPlus sales team has of Fluke Corporation’s products. CalPlus is also the exclusive German distributor for Fluke Calibration’s electrical and temperature calibration portfolio.

In 2022, this expertise enabled CalPlus to secure the largest single order for Fluke Calibration of $6.7 million – $4.5 million on hardware and $2.2 million on Premium Care plans – with a semiconductor and component test systems manufacturer. The accuracy, reliability and stability of Fluke Calibrations’ products are of critical importance to calibration and primary laboratories in Germany.

Flavio Romano, Senior Director of EMEA Sales, Fluke Corporation said: “The success of our partnership is owed to CalPlus’ unwavering commitment to customer-centricity and excellence in customer service, innovation and technical expertise. CalPlus’ profound product understanding enables them to provide comprehensive training and unmatched support, expediting the discovery of optimal solutions. Their proactive innovation ensures they lead in meeting evolving customer needs. Together, our shared vision for growth in the German market has forged a strategic alliance marked by mutual trust and a relentless pursuit of excellence.”

Jürgen Mau, Managing Director of CalPlus says long-term customer and supplier partnerships are at the heart of CalPlus’ corporate philosophy.

“Having Fluke as a Premium partner for 25 years has enabled us to make substantial inroads into the electrical and temperature calibration market in Germany. Over the years, we have also expanded our in-stock range of Fluke’s industrial and networking portfolios to reflect the considerable growth in the renewable energy sector, including solar and wind power as well as electric vehicles. These rapidly evolving markets demand reliable testing and calibration solutions of the highest quality. Fluke is a true innovator in these sectors and enables us to deliver complete solutions to our customers.”

Upgrade and save 20% for a limited time

Fluke Calibration is offering European customers the opportunity to upgrade and save 20% on the 55X0A Series of High-Performance Multi-Product Calibrators. For a limited time, customers can trade in their existing precision calibrator regardless of the manufacturer and upgrade to the latest technology.

Featuring three advanced models, the 5560A, 5550A and 5540A provide the most comprehensive electrical workload coverage with the highest accuracy, an intuitive redesigned front panel, MET/CAL compatibility and much more. This limited time offer ends on 28 June 2024.

More information on Fluke Calibration’s new trade-in program can be found here.

The precision of Contrinex’s inductive sensors finds them in an astonishing array of applications and this is further expanded by the introduction of their SMART sensors. An example of utilising this new technology is to measure the roller deformation and eccentricity when bending and forming heavy steel or aluminium plates and strips.

Reliable monitoring is essential to avoid potentially significant scrap costs, but taking machines out of service to inspect rollers causes downtime which drives designers to identify real-time monitoring solutions. Contrinex’s SMART Distance Measurement Sensors (DMS) are able to deliver actionable precision information about the condition of a roller, in real-time, including during rolling operations.

CUSTOMER APPLICATION

Bending and forming heavy metal plates and strips, particularly in steel or aluminium, requires large-scale investment in industrial rolling equipment with a consequent need to maintain high levels of uptime and productivity. Key to this is monitoring roller deformation and eccentricity, as these are common causes of out-of-tolerance production which can result in significant scrap costs.

Production engineers rely on regular measurement of both parameters to enable corrective action to be taken before product quality suffers. Traditionally, this required machines to be taken out of service to take the necessary measurements, not only putting unwanted time pressure on maintenance teams but also making it almost impossible to detect every occurrence before product defects occur.

The availability of affordable and robust distance measurement sensors from Contrinex which offer exceptionally high accuracy, has enabled designers to identify real-time solutions, eliminating avoidable downtime. They need rugged, high-performance devices, suitable for harsh industrial environments, that communicate seamlessly with modern control systems. Accuracy and reliability must go hand-in-hand with cost-effectiveness, giving an attractive price-performance ratio.

CUSTOMER SOLUTION

Designers elected to take advantage of Contrinex’s high-resolution Smart Distance Measurement Sensors (DMS) to upgrade an existing machine. By fitting a semi-permanent, but demountable, crossbar along the top roll of a three-roll bending machine, supporting six stainless-steel M18 DMS sensors at regular intervals, the engineering team implemented a robust, cost-effective solution to the problem.

With the sensors positioned immediately adjacent to the surface of the roller, and with a measurement accuracy to within fractions of a millimetre, they deliver actionable information about the condition of the roller, on-demand and in real-time – including during rolling operations. The design of the mounting brackets offers additional protection for the sensors, further protecting these rugged all-metal devices from accidental damage.

The embeddable, one-piece V2A (AISI 303) stainless-steel M18 Smart DMS Sensors, have a nominal 10-mm sensing distance for carbon steel, and are highly robust and resistant to vibration and mechanical shock. Capable of measuring both lateral and axial displacement directly, these devices also record cumulative data, including operational cycle count and temperature, with customer-specific alarm thresholds for each parameter programmed into the sensor memory.

IO-Link connectivity, standard across the range, provides an easy industry-standard interface to the central control system for routine process data. During initial calibration, each sensor’s configuration is stored automatically on the local IO-Link Master; this allows plug-and-play replacement of sensors should the need arise, without any loss of functionality and without any need for recalibration. Designed with the needs of OEMs and system integrators in mind, Smart Sensors provide an unobtrusive fit-and-forget solution.

Tektronix, Inc, a leading provider in test and measurement solutions, has acquired EA Elektro-Automatik (EA), a principal supplier of high-power electronic test solutions for energy storage, mobility, hydrogen, and renewable energy applications. The introduction of EA to the Tektronix team provides the company with expanded solutions, leveraging Tektronix’s industry-leading oscilloscopes and isolated probes, EA’s high-efficiency power supplies and electronic loads, and Keithley’s high-precision source meters and instrumentation. Combined, the Tektronix portfolio offers a unique set of capabilities for energy storage and power electronics design needs, from ultra-low to ultra-high power. With the addition of EA, Tektronix is better equipped than ever to serve engineers who are electrifying our world.

“Our customers are facing challenges in delivering safe and reliable power electronics designs that incorporate new technologies such as high energy density batteries, efficient electric motors, smart power inverters, and wide-bandgap semiconductors, for high power and performance to electrify industries and meet an ever-increasing energy demand to power our world,” said Markus Schyboll, CEO of EA Elektro-Automatik.

“Many companies offer partial power electronics design solutions, but now Tektronix offers an extensive set of products for industry-wide electrification,” said Chris Bohn, Tektronix President. “These aren’t just any regenerative power supplies. EA equipment adds high-efficiency regenerative power capabilities to the Tektronix portfolio that are critical to supporting our future-facing electrification goals.”

From analysis of power electronics performance dynamics with Tektronix MSO oscilloscopes and IsoVu probes, to semiconductor characterization and quality control for low power/high precision designs with Keithley SMUs and precision measurement instruments, and now with the addition of EA solutions to the portfolio, Tektronix can offer solutions up to 3.8 megawatt with industry-leading regenerative efficiency >96% to cover the full range of customer power needs. EA’s power supplies complement the Tektronix portfolio of cutting-edge scopes, probes, SMUs, and precision measurement instruments, allowing users to scale up in voltage to 2,000V or current up to 64,000A with a low noise regenerative instrument to minimize added heat and EMI noise — ensuring the best possible testing when using Tektronix, Keithley, and EA-branded test and measurement products.

With emphasis on creating solutions for power electronics in the semiconductor, aerospace, and automotive industries, the Tektronix and EA product portfolio addresses leading issues in energy storage, mobility, and hydrogen fuel. To learn more about the full Tektronix portfolio of solutions, including EA Elektro-Automatik, Tektronix, and Keithley products, visit tek.com.

You only have until 30 April 2024 to make your nominations for the Instrumentation Excellence Awards so make sure you visit instrumentationawards.co.uk to enter before it is too late.

The 2024 Instrumentation Excellence Awards, organised by Instrumentation Monthly publisher Datateam Business Media, celebrate the very best professionals, products and companies from the test, measurement, sensing and control sectors so head over to the IEA portal now at instrumentationawards.co.uk to find out more on how you can get your moment in the spotlight this October.

The event will take place on 24 October at the Grand Connaught Rooms and will once again take place alongside the Electronics Industry Awards, making it the night of the year for networking.

Launched in 2022, the event has grown from strength to strength. Last year, the event was hosted by celebrities Shaun Williamson and Alan Dedicoat. Attendees enjoyed live entertainment, including singing performances by host Shaun Williamson, as well as a delicious meal and a disco. This year’s event will continue in this tradition of celebration, making it an unmissable night for everyone in the instrumentation sector. ABB, BWW, VEGA Controls, Micro-Epsilon, ifm electronic and Napier have already announced their support for the 2024 Instrumentation Excellence Awards as sponsors of the event.

To find out more about sponsorship opportunities for the 2024 event, please contact Louise Tiller by emailing ltiller@datateam.co.uk or calling 01622 699104. To learn more about the awards, please visit instrumentationawards.co.uk.

Farnell has been honoured with the prestigious title of Global Distributor of the Year – 2023 by Global Connector Technology (GCT), one of the leading manufacturers of world-class connector and cable assembly solutions for over 30 years.

This accolade underscores Farnell’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and steadfast partnership with industry leaders.

The GCT awards celebrate distributors who have significantly contributed to expanding market reach, driving revenue growth, and delivering exceptional service to customers worldwide. Amidst unprecedented challenges in the industry, Farnell’s dedication and remarkable achievements throughout 2023 stood out, earning them this esteemed recognition.

“We have seen steady development of our business with Farnell over the past few years and these efforts really delivered results in 2023, a year that was not short of challenges across our industry,” said Richard Clark, Global Distribution Manager from GCT. “The teams at Farnell have been very supportive in expanding the GCT product offering, and this delivered best in class results in revenue growth, customer count expansion, and the number of unique parts sold. We deeply value the engagement with Farnell and look forward to continuing to accelerate our mutual growth.”

GCT highlighted Farnell’s instrumental role in expanding the GCT product portfolio and credited this collaboration for delivering outstanding performance amidst a dynamic business landscape.

Russell Paik, Global Category Director for Interconnect & Electromechanical at Farnell, said: “Winning the ‘Global Distributor of the Year’ award from GCT highlights the strong relationship we have built with GCT and customers. We are honoured by this recognition and look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional service and value to our customers worldwide.”

Customers can explore the entire GCT range from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

‘Energizing a Sustainable Industry’ – this is the theme of Hannover Messe 2024. In order to make the various branches of industry more sustainable and efficient in the long term, a digital ecosystem infrastructure is needed that generates transparent data streams and serves to optimize processes. Endress+Hauser will be presenting its solutions for digital process optimization in hall 15, booth E52 from 22 to 26 April 2024.

The process industry makes an indispensable and important contribution to supplying people with the goods they need in their daily lives. Based on professional measuring devices, Endress+Hauser has also been making a significant contribution to the digitalization of production processes with its digital interfaces and services for several years. More and more data is being generated, processed and concentrated into insights for customers.

“Comprehensive use and seamless integration of data streams remain challenges for the process industry. However, these are of crucial importance in order to provide our customers with more transparency about their production so that they can make informed decisions. Such transparency is also essential in order to realize the goal of a climate-neutral industry,” says Dr Rolf Birkhofer, managing director of Endress+Hauser Digital Solutions. “At Hannover Messe, we will be providing an insight into our range of digital solutions for our customers – from planning to operation and optimization. One of our aims is to create sustainable digitalized processes along the entire value chain and thus equip our customers for the future.”

From planning to process design: digital twins on the rise

The standardized digital twin plays a key role in industry. It is the interface for physical devices and components in the digital world and enables the mapping of complete plants in IT systems – for the simulation, control and improvement of processes.

“As a founding member of the Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA), we have been working intensively with manufacturers and operators for years to recognize common standards and implement them on the market,” says Michael Riester, senior enterprise architect at Endress+Hauser. “At Hannover Messe, we are presenting our digital twins based on the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) standard, which can be used in any company in the future.” The aim is to reduce manual engineering effort by enhancing existing information in field devices with manufacturer information, such as data for the “as planned” status from computer-aided development tools. Customers thus benefit from data availability in digital, standardized and manufacturer-independent form and avoid incorrect and duplicate data storage.

As part of the Open Industry 4.0 Alliance’s “Follow the Twin Challenge”, Endress+Hauser uses the automatic identification of physical objects in accordance with IEC 61406. This standard defines a globally unique, machine-readable ID that is attached to a physical object, similar to a type plate or label. This enables customers to easily manage the supplier data required for their processes from development to operation across various independent suppliers.

From process design to added value: the Netilion digital ecosystem

The field instruments of an average industrial plant together account for over 240,000 pieces of documentation. Data management takes a lot of time because, until now, instructions, reports, certificates and other documents had to be entered and assigned manually. The Netilion product developed by Endress+Hauser offers digital support for these processes based on the digital twin: all files can be automatically linked to the digital twin of the field device in Netilion Library and collected so that every document is quickly at hand. Netilion Connect offers a connection via a standard interface (API) for use in various other IT systems so that the recorded data can also be used afterwards. The Netilion Analytics web application processes the data and provides an overview of all sub-processes and all components from a wide range of manufacturers recorded in the system. Customers can use this overview to standardize their equipment and improve processes.

From added value to process optimization: early flood detection

Endress+Hauser is already using Netilion in another application for early flood warning. This involves collecting data from water level gauges, rain and soil moisture sensors in the region to be monitored and supplementing it with other external data such as weather forecasts and terrain information. “Thanks to the consolidation of the data combined with an AI algorithm developed by our partner, it is possible to make an accurate and early prediction of whether and when flooding is imminent,” says Hans-Jürgen Huber, managing director for IIoT at Endress+Hauser. “The ability to integrate a wide variety of data from different sources into Netilion is the key to successfully implementing digital value chains.”

element14 Community, in collaboration with Arduino, is hosting an upcoming webinar titled “Exploring Arduino Pro’s Role in Industry 4.0.” The webinar will take place on 18 April 2024, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Central Time (US), and 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM BST.

Join the element14 Community for this insightful session where they will explore the transformative potential of Arduino Pro products in enabling edge computing capabilities within Industry 4.0 applications across various industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.

During the webinar, attendees will have the opportunity to explore practical examples showcasing the application of Arduino Pro products in IoT projects, demonstrating their ability and scalability. Additionally, it will discuss how the incorporation of edge AI elevates project functionalities, enhances scalability, and enriches the overall user experience.

What participants will learn by attending:

• How the Arduino platform can be used in Industry 4.0
• The application of Arduino Pro products in an IoT projects
• Demonstrating how edge AI can enhance the project’s functionality, scalability and user experience

“We are excited to host this webinar and shed light on the capabilities of Arduino Pro products in the context of Industry 4.0,” said Andreea Teodorescu, Global Director of Product Marketing & element14 Community. “By attending, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how Arduino Pro products empower businesses to harness the full potential of Industry 4.0, driving enhanced productivity and competitiveness.”

For more information about the webinar and to register, please visit: https://community.element14.com/learn/events/c/e/1708.

Anritsu Company is proud to announce the launch of our new inline power sensor MA24103A that is designed to measure accurate Peak and True-RMS average power measurements from 25 MHz to 1 GHz and 2 mW to 150 W power range.

Several applications demand accurate peak and average power measurements well below the frequency range of 1 GHz. Agencies in Public Safety, Avionics (air traffic control and repair stations), and Railroads, etc. must maintain critical communications between the control centers and the vehicles. The slightest error in making measurements or maintaining a communication network in these markets could risk public safety or even have fatal consequences.

The advantage with lower frequencies is that they can propagate a longer distance and maintain communication with fast-moving vehicles. Normally, at lower frequencies the power of the transmitting signal is in the range of watts, which makes the MA24103A more suited for these types of applications.

This highly accurate, Inline Peak Power Sensor communicates with a PC via USB or with an Anritsu handheld instrument equipped with the high accuracy power meter option 19.

Some of the main markets that benefit from this low frequency Inline Power Sensor include:

• Broadcast Network and Manufacturer: Lab performance accuracy and low insertion loss over a wide temperature range (0 ºC to 55 ºC), making it perfect for field applications.
• Railroads: to evaluate various systems like Positive Train Control Systems, End of Train (EOT) signals, automated train control systems, and FM voice base stations.
• Avionics: such as Civil and Military Airports for beacon testing, surveillance radar testing, localizer, and marker testing.