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The HMI for the future – mobile, modular and touch-based operating concepts will be revolutionizing the industry

The smartphone is fundamentally changing the way we communicate

Smartphones and the accompanying touchscreen operation have changed the entire communication in our modern society. Before cell phones and smartphones, a stationary telephone was usually the only way to communicate with the external world or make phone calls. There was typically one phone per household. This was tied to a fixed place by means of a telephone cable and only had a few tactile input options. In other words, although communication worked, it was inflexible and the application options were limited to pure calling with a single remote location. With the appearance of the smartphone, communication has changed radically. Touchscreen operation and the use of powerful microprocessors allow a wide range of new applications that go far beyond just making phone calls. A huge number of apps are now an integral part of our everyday lives, making the mobile phone our constant assistant, tailored to our personal needs. It is always with us, always ready at hand and we communicate around the clock via a wide choice of channels, regardless of location, wirelessly and flexibly. A cable is only needed for charging. In summary, today’s smartphone is much more than just a phone.

The revolution in machine operation

Touch operating concepts have not only fundamentally revolutionized communication between people, they have also dramatically changed human-machine communication. In the past, control panels with fixed operating elements were mainly used to control machines. Machines were operated using fixed buttons, switches, etc. as well as analog display elements or at the most 7-segment displays. Overall, although the control panels were perfectly matched to the machines to be operated, they were also inflexible – if changes had to be made to the machine – and, due to their size, were usually fixed to the machine and therefore tied to a specific location. Usually, just one machine could be operated with one control unit. Similar to the consumer environment, communication between man and machine has changed fundamentally with the rise of touch-based operating devices. Not only has the number of application opportunities and fields increased, but the requirements for modern HMIs have also changed significantly.

2023 03 M2Smart HMI10 Roboter Automobilfertigung

Modern HMIs must be mobile and wireless. A cable restricts the range of movement and also endangers the user and other people who are in the same working environment. They also need to be flexible to use, preferably on several different machines. For this purpose, it makes sense that the HMI has a modular design and can be quickly and efficiently adapted to different machines and fields of application. In addition, a touch-based HMI also needs to focus on user-friendliness. The user requires a device that can be operated intuitively and just as easily and logically as they do on their smartphone or tablet in everyday life. This includes being able to use similar functions to those they are familiar with from the consumer sector. The more flexible and modular the devices are and the greater the number of possible applications that can be covered by one device, the longer the employee will be holding the device in their hands and the issue of ergonomic working will come to the fore. Another key issue when using HMIs in industry and integrating systems into networks is data security. Modern HMIs have to meet far higher security requirements than consumer devices, for instance. The risk of external attacks in particular is a major reason why security measures for machines in industrial environments are absolutely essential. Last but not least, modern, touch-based HMIs still require safety elements such as emergency stop and enabling switches in order to be used for many applications in industrial environments.

The HMI for the future – wireless and secure

In order to meet the requirements of a modern and mobile HMI for the future, ACD Elektronik has developed a brand new, modular family of mobile operating devices including a safe system for data transmission. The focus of this system is, of course, the HMI devices themselves, which are available in two different versions. The M2Smart® HMI10 as a 10-inch device in tablet form factor and the M2Smart® HMI5 as a 5-inch device in smartphone form factor. With the HMIs from ACD Elektronik, the safety data is transmitted safely using the black channel method via a wireless connection between the HMI and a gateway, which is also available in two versions. The gateway in turn is connected to a safety controller so that data safety is also guaranteed here. The system from ACD Elektronik is supplemented by an optional WiFi access point, which can also be used to securely cover the second radio link between the gateway and access point. The M2Smart® HMI devices and the gateway are connected via simple RFID pairing and the mobile HMI panel including emergency stop and/or enabling switch in the device is ready for operation. Thanks to a modern dual-processor architecture, safety levels of up to PLd can be achieved.

Mobile, modular, ergonomic – the M2Smart® HMI

The M2Smart® HMI devices from ACD Elektronik consist of a basic device with touch operation and interchangeable modules such as handwheels, function keys, etc. The absence of a cable makes the devices easier to use and ensures a wide range of applications. The modular design and the use of web visualizations, which can be called up depending on the location and application, also increase the number of possible areas of operation.

The modularity also allows subsequent module adaptations or even new developments, so that the HMI can also be used for multiple machines over a longer period of time.

Kabelloses und mobiles Safety HMI M2Smart HMI10 für funktionale sichere Maschinenbedienung mit 10 Zoll Display und Android Industrial+

The M2Smart® HMIs from ACD offer maximum flexibility and are suitable as operating devices for almost any machine. In addition, the HMI devices can also be used as an employee’s personal device. Each employee therefore has his own device with which he can operate all machines. He can also configure and set up the HMI individually according to his wishes. It naturally goes without saying that our M2Smart® HMIs have the necessary safety elements such as an emergency stop or enabling switch.
Good operability and an ergonomic design are crucial for a device that can be used to operate several machines over a longer period of time. The M2Smart® HMIs from ACD Elektronik are designed to rest perfectly in the hand and, especially in the heavier 10-inch version, the weight is not on the wrist but on the forearm. When developing the devices, care was also taken to ensure that they are suitable for both right-handed and left-handed users. In addition, the ergonomic enabling switch enables fatigue-free working, even when the HMIs are in continuous use. With particular regard to the user-friendliness of the devices, the use of the AndroidTM operating system should also be mentioned. With a market share of over 70 % for smartphones and tablets, almost every employee has already handled and used an AndroidTM device. The use of AndroidTM therefore eliminates the need for lengthy training in the operation of the devices and the user can intuitively find their way around the user interface of the M2Smart® HMI devices right from the start.

Security through modified AndroidTM version

The above mentioned AndroidTM operating system has clear advantages compared to other operating systems widely used in the industry, such as Windows® or Linux. AndroidTM is optimized for battery-powered touch applications and is also frequently used in the consumer world. However, one issue that is always in the spotlight when using AndroidTM is data security. Short update cycles and many services and functions always raise questions: What happens to my data? Especially in the industrial environment, this question is even more important than in the consumer environment and it is of the highest importance for companies that their data is secure and is not passed on. To ensure this, ACD Elektronik has developed its own, exceptionally secure AndroidTM version. With the AndroidTM Industrial+ operating system, ACD has succeeded in maintaining the advantages of AndroidTM and increasing the security of the operating system so that it is ideally suited for industrial use. The entire source code is stored on ACD servers in Germany, which ensures that no data is passed on to third parties. In addition, all services that could lead to the unwanted disclosure of data have been eliminated. It goes without saying that the operating system is constantly subjected to vulnerability tests and checked for possible security gaps. All adjustments to the system are implemented at the ACD Elektronik location in Germany. To ensure real long-term availability, we have decoupled the system from the short AndroidTM upgrade cycles. Updates, upgrades and security patches are provided by ACD over a significantly longer period than the customer is used to in the consumer environment.

Constant operation and state-of-the-art user-friendliness

The M2Smart® HMI devices are equipped with a rechargeable battery so that they can be used for a comparatively long period of time without interruption. The battery can also be changed during operation so that the device does not need to be recharged. Of course, there is also a suitable docking station for the replaceable batteries. Mounts including charging options, passive mounts and a variety of suitable apps, such as the ACD Mobile Device Manager for easy management of all devices or the ACD KioskMode for restricting authorizations on the device by the administrator, complete our M2Smart® HMI devices and make the device as user-friendly as possible and round off our HMI portfolio.

Mobiles und kabelloses safety HMI M2Smart HMI5 mit 5 Zoll Display und Android Industrial#+ zur sicheren Maschinenbedienung.

Summary

With the triumph of touch-based communication devices such as smartphones and tablets, human-machine communication in industry has also changed radically. Where rigid and stationary operating devices were used in the past, modern and mobile HMIs will be used in the future. These enable a wide range of new applications, but must also meet a large number of different requirements. Among other things, they must meet various safety and security standards, should be suitable for operating multiple machines and enable fatigue-free operation throughout the working day. With the devices of the M2Smart® HMI family, ACD Elektronik has succeeded in developing mobile, modular and ergonomic HMIs that meet all industrial requirements and are suitable for a wide range of applications and for operating almost any machine in an industrial environment.