The Technologies Enabling Digitalization of Fluid Power Systems
Digitalization is typically defined as the use of digital technologies to enable or improve processes. Sensors, controllers and software are just some of the technologies used to employ digitalization, including within fluid power components and systems.
According to Nate Keller, Ph.D., Business Development Manager, Moog Construction, sensors and controllers are the technologies which initially come to mind that are fundamental to digitalization. However, he said these components can only do so much with the physical hardware such as hydraulic valves.
“You have to at some point start changing the hardware if you want to make the control even better,” he said.
Marcus Pont, CEO of Domin, agrees. The ability to write software and control things are not the limiting factors when employing digitalization but the hardware itself. Therefore, it is important to design hydraulics or pneumatics hardware with software, digital control and digital configurability in mind to achieve the desired goals of digitalization which is to create more intelligent and efficient systems.
For Festo, software has been an important part of the digitalization journey said Frank Langro, Director of Product Market Management, Pneumatic Automation, North America. But hardware limitations have also been a factor and a key driver for the company applying piezo electrics instead of solenoids for valve actuation. Applying software to the piezoelectric actuator in its pneumatic valves have opened a whole new world of performance possibilities for Festo, said Langro.
In this panel discussion with Keller, Pont and Langro from the webinar “How Digitalization of Fluid Power is Enabling New Technological Advancements” they offer their perspectives on the technologies being used for digitalization as well as how their companies moving hydraulics and pneumatics into the digital world.
About the Author
Sara Jensen
Executive Editor, Power & Motion
Sara Jensen is executive editor of Power & Motion, directing expanded coverage into the modern fluid power space, as well as mechatronic and smart technologies. She has over 15 years of publishing experience. Prior to Power & Motion she spent 11 years with a trade publication for engineers of heavy-duty equipment, the last 3 of which were as the editor and brand lead. Over the course of her time in the B2B industry, Sara has gained an extensive knowledge of various heavy-duty equipment industries — including construction, agriculture, mining and on-road trucks —along with the systems and market trends which impact them such as fluid power and electronic motion control technologies.
You can follow Sara and Power & Motion via the following social media handles:
X (formerly Twitter): @TechnlgyEditor and @PowerMotionTech
LinkedIn: @SaraJensen and @Power&Motion
Facebook: @PowerMotionTech