I am Creating a List of Industrial RoadTesters. Are You Interested?

Hello Randall,

I am interested (I will write pvt some more detail) but I am concerned on what is the environment we can work on road testing industrial parts. In some cases - like my proposal, just as an example - of testing the PLC based on Intel I was also able to find here locally the right application context but what in cases where I can have the knowledge - for example waste waters analysis by the chemistry point of view but there is not the practical context?

Enrico

Enrico,

You make a really good point. That's one of the big issues of testing an industrial product. Honestly, I don't have it all thought out. Here's an example of a product that I was approached about:

https://industrial.omron.eu/en/products/e5cb

I'm not sure if we can roadtest this kind of product. If so, I have to determine what kinds of products we can roadtest and what kinds of industrial products we cannot.

thanks.

Randall

Funny enough, I ordered a cheap chinese version of such a PID controller from ebay last week... I want to use it to control a hot plate (to ease SMD soldering and manual reflowing). So I could actually test it, although not in an industrial setting (my day-job doesn't involve electronics or machines)

Randall, two considerations.

The fitst is that IMHO we should consider case by case as it mostly depends on the kind of context where everyone of us (supposed an industrial roadtesters group) live, their personal contacts, experience etc. For the better understanding bofntge product

Second I think that your idea to create a pool of reliable toadtesters is not only good, it is necessary. I imagine that it is not so obvious you can find a community member with all the required requisites enrolling for industrial toadtests if thetr us not a group aware if what thus kind of testing implies.

A good idea maybe to create a sort of roadtesters group before you can count on that (i.e. the industrial roadtesters crew )

Than a great help can be to know before a list of products, so it is possible to make a plan.

Last but also important: as far as I know based on my personal experience in industrial applications is - as you see frequently at the industrial products faires - building small projects platforms showing and testing the product features, possibly in all the range, with a simulator. Just like in this temperature control device you mentioned. A similar approach by my point of view is very intetesting.

Also consider that an in-place application test rarely can test all the features of a product. In this case for example, if you apply this to freezer cooling control you ate limited to a certain range if temperature, can't test properly the visibility in all the light conditions, can't verify a lab evaluation of the response time, alarms, etc. While it is easy and possible with a controlled simulated environment.

Enrico

Enrico Miglino wrote:

 

also consider that an in-place application test rarely can test all the features of a product. In this case for example, if you apply this to freezer cooling control you ate limited to a certain range if temperature, can't test properly the visibility in all the light conditions, can't verify a lab evaluation of the response time, alarms, etc. While it is easy and possible with a controlled simulated environment.

 

Enrico

This is an excellent point Enrico.

At first thought, it does seem like a good idea to have a group of industrial roadtesters but like the example product given above, not every industrial application would need such a device so even a group of industrial roadtesters might not yield any people with a potential application.

Plus even if somebody could utilise a device in an industrial workplace, this doesnt mean they would have clearance to do so. Not many businesses let people bring their own devices into work to switch for tried and tested equipment thats already in place.

Hi Lucie,

correct what you say. Not all people can do it. But I also consider that not all people can write C code as well as work with proficient python scripts for embedded devices and more and more. In this exception, as well as in any other E14 context like challenges, project posting etc. open to all as a matter of fact means open to all that are involved in this specific field.

Then - if I have understood correctly what rscasny Randall wrote - this is not a new trend moving road testing to the industrial products but together with the other range of boards and products to road test also industrial products suppliers are attracted by this initiative and want their products tested too. By my point of view, this is a thank you to all the members that produces great road testing (I am appreciating your pragmatic approach to the recent FPGA testing posts) and a first indicator of successful initiative.

Enrico

Hi Lucie,

correct what you say. Not all people can do it. But I also consider that not all people can write C code as well as work with proficient python scripts for embedded devices and more and more. In this exception, as well as in any other E14 context like challenges, project posting etc. open to all as a matter of fact means open to all that are involved in this specific field.

Then - if I have understood correctly what rscasny Randall wrote - this is not a new trend moving road testing to the industrial products but together with the other range of boards and products to road test also industrial products suppliers are attracted by this initiative and want their products tested too. By my point of view, this is a thank you to all the members that produces great road testing (I am appreciating your pragmatic approach to the recent FPGA testing posts) and a first indicator of successful initiative.

Enrico