Operating, monitoring and controlling plant components over cyberspace

In recent years, nearly every industry has increasingly implemented computer based measurement, instrumentation and automation technologies to control, operate, and/or monitor various plant components of industrial equipment. This has also resulted in a paradigm shift from analog to digital technologies that are suitable for communications over the Internet, Web or networked computer systems. This paper presents a methodology for remote operation and monitoring of plant components through the Internet/Web. The Internet interfacing technologies have been examined through an experimental setup used at Fort Valley State University to perform remote experiments via the Internet. The setup is a motor-generator station that can be fully operated, monitored and controlled by computer systems using Virtual Instrument programs written in LabVIEW. It also features on-line capabilities that allow users to fully operate and monitor it remotely through the Internet. The paper also addresses typical technological concerns and challenges regarding safety and security measures as well as real-time operation.