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Human Machine Interfaces, or HMIs, could be regarded as the connection between the worker and the machine. Allowing full control over a complicated automated undertaking with just the touch of a button. This is why every company involved in modern industrial automation can’t afford to ignore the importance of HMI in today’s industrial landscape. As a matter of fact, operations and safety have become much more efficient in today’s daylight due to HMI.
With the help of a GUI, specifically designed HMI allows the operator to work with the machine in real time for easy performance monitoring, setting adjustments and troubleshooting. The user only has to look over the interface, and rerouting the entire task at hand becomes that much simpler. All this is easily possible because of the vast quantity of data a single individual would be working with. Thus, this gives better productivity and simultaneously lessens the chances of human error.
El uso de sistemas HMI permite la visualización de datos de parte de los operarios, lo que constituye uno de sus principales beneficios. Las tecnologías de los HMIs actuales incluyen sofisticaciones de visualización tridimensional o incluso de realidad aumentada para la representación de la información. Esto permite a los operativos tener un panorama general del funcionamiento de los diferentes procesos y, a su vez, les da la oportunidad de tomar decisiones que estén encaminadas a mejorar la productividad de estos. También se ha mejorado en la integración de apertura que permite la interconexión de sistemas de automatización como HMI, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), y otros, extendiendo aún más el control de procesos industriales
Una de las funciones principales de los HMIs y su utilización dentro de la automatización industrial es la seguridad. Con la supervisión de la condición de funcionamiento de las máquinas y la detección de anomalías en este, las operaciones que realice un HMI son capaces de alertar a los operadores sobre la posibilidad de la aparición de pequeños peligros. Esta forma del manejo de seguridad no solo resguarda a los operarios, también ahorra costos de inactividades y de paradas imprevistas. Igualmente, muchos sistemas actuales de HMI están equipados con características que refuerzan la seguridad industrial, tales como botones para el paro de emergencia y dispositivos de enclavamiento de seguridad.
Furthermore, as it advances in technology, HMI now allows for embedding of predictive capabilities and advanced analytics and application of machine learning… This means that predictive maintenance is possible which would ensure that equipment failure is avoided by substituting equipment before it fails. The HMI can even recommend when certain equipment should be serviced based on its analysis of past data, thus improving the effectiveness of the asset and increasing the useful life of the equipment. This shift from knowledge-collaboration to data collaboration is changing the way in which maintenance and operational efficiency are handled by industries.
As industries go forward, the scope of HMI as an integral part of industrial automation solutions will continue to expand. One of the trends driving the change perspective is the explosion of IoT and industry 4.0. To do so, more advanced technologies will be applied in HMIs to enhance user and operational experience. With modern HMI systems, one can improve performance and efficiency of operations, as well as stay ahead of competition in the changing industrial environment.
Finally, the concept of Human-Machine Interfaces in the context of present day industrial automation solutions has become integral. This is due to the fact that they enhance efficiency and cost effectiveness as well as improve security and decision making in a data driven world. This will result in an increase in the efficiency of communication between operators and machines, thus improving the, and rather continuous integration of operations fundamental for industry.