Vision network tip

If you don’t already have your smart cameras on a separate network, you may be doing it soon. With growing demand for all images to be saved, plus track-and-trace data, the volume of vision data being sent around many plants is expanding beyond the ability of the regular IT network to handle.

One tool to help might be the “managed switch.” I didn’t know anything about these, but a Hank Hogan article in Control Design (Jan 15, 2015,) provided some illumination. If you’re getting beat up over hogging all the bandwidth, take a look at “How Valuable is Your Network.” It might help soothe the tension with your IT people.