Automation technology group ifm electronic has significantly reduced the need for complex wiring with its new actuator-sensor interface (AS-i) controllers and gateways, which ifm electronic SA will put on display at this year’s Electra Mining Africa.

The company explains that AS-i considerably reduces wiring complexity as conventional parallel wiring of each sensor or actuator to the controller is no longer necessary. This eliminates the need to use a great number of terminals, splitter boxes, input/output cards and cable lines.

Through its field connections, AS-i allows low-cost connection of conventional devices. Each AS-i line can connect up to 248 binary sensors and 186 actuators. Data communication of all sensors is normally performed by a yellow AS-i cable.

“The AS-i provides a simple struc-ture, speed, quick wiring and a good price/performance ratio,” states ifm electronic SA.

The company adds that the technology can be used as a feeder bus for higher bus systems, which, in turn, ensures a nontime critical transmission of the data over longer distances to the host controller.

Also on exhibit will be ifm’s latest R360 Safety Controller for mobile vehicles. The safety concept monitors all internal and external functions and reliably switches off the process in case of an error. Special test routines for hardware and software monitoring are implemented in the devices. The certified device hardware, the operating system software and the programming tools make it easier for the project engineer to obtain approval for a machine as he or she only has to concentrate on the application programme.

“The easy and clear programming CoDeSys system includes all important system information for the application programme. Through the CAN interface, the devices can be connected to further safe and nonsafety-related controllers or input/output modules in the R360 device family using the CANsafety and CANopen protocol,” says ifm electronic SA.

The company will have guests from Germany at its stand to answer questions, including ifm’s Hansjörg Hopp, sales and marketing, key accounts AS-i product manager and Detlef Hawlitzek, sales and marketing, key accounts control systems.

Hall 7 Stand E7