Mitsubishi Electric Launches Two New Products

Mitsubishi Electric to Launch iQ Edgecross Software

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced that it will launch a real-time data analyzer and four data collectors sequentially from the end of June 2018 as additions to its iQ Edgecross edge-computing software lineup.  iQ Edgecross products support the Edgecross open software platform used to integrate factory automation (FA) and information technology (IT).  The real-time data-analyzer is software equipped with proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) for data analysis and diagnostics, which customers will use to strengthen preventive maintenance and quality in their productions shops. The data collectors will enable easy, high-speed collection of data. Together, the new products will improve efficiency by strengthening edge computing in Mitsubishi Electric’s e-F@ctory integrated FA solutions, which customers use to reduce total costs of development, production and maintenance.

Key Features

1) Real-time data analyzer with AI strengthens preventative maintenance

• Performs real-time analysis and diagnosis of production systems under operation, using one software instead of separate software for different purposes (i.e., offline analysis and real-time diagnostics).
• Improves the accuracy of detecting equipment anomalies during real-time diagnostics using similar waveform recognition technology—a Mitsubishi Electric Maisart AI technology—to learn and recognize data, such as sensor waveform patterns.
• Implements preventive maintenance and quality improvement without additional programming. In the event of problems, in addition to using AI technologies, factor analysis has been simplified with statistical diagnostic tools, such as the Mahalanobis-Taguchi method (detects differences from normal operations using correlations between data sets) and multivariable regression analysis for data.

2) Factory floor data easily collected at high speed using four types of data collectors

• Easily collects data from equipment and devices through data collectors that support SLMP, OPC UA and MTConnect.
• Data collectors are fully compatible with the CC-Link IE Field Network for high-speed data collection (up to 1ms) at production sites to assure highly accurate equipment control.

Mitsubishi Electric to Launch MELIPC Series Industrial-use Computers

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation also announced that it will launch three MELIPC Series industrial-use computer models for factory automation (FA) control applications and edge computing sequentially from the end of June 2018.  The flagship MI5000 combines real-time equipment control and information processing in one box, the midrange MI2000 is designed for wide-ranging system expansion, and the compact, low-cost MI1000 will enable companies to begin introducing IoT on their factory floors.

Key Features

1. MI5000 for edge computing that integrates real-time equipment control and information processing

• High-speed collection, diagnosis and feedback of production floor data utilizing a single machine equipped with VxWorks and Windows operating system. Saves space and reduces costs of building IoT systems.
• CC-Link IE Field Network compatibility enables high-speed data exchange at speeds of up to 1ms for highly accurate real-time equipment control.
• Quality equivalent to that of Mitsubishi Electric MELSEC Series general-purpose programmable controllers is guaranteed. Compliance with IEC/JIS standards ensures robustness and resilience required for use at production sites.

2. MI2000 for wide-ranging system expansions to optimize IoT use on production floors

• Contributes to improved product quality by performing data diagnostics and operations monitoring at production sites, using a built-in high-performance processor and Windows® operating system.
• Expands systems using PCI and PCI Express expansion ports. Performs high-speed collection of production data using CC-Link IE Field Network boards (optional), and advanced equipment control via input/output boards (optional).

3. MI1000 for low-cost introduction of IoT at existing production facilities to enhance innovation

• Compact chassis with Windows preinstalled for highly flexible production-floor installations.
• When installed as a gateway in existing facilities having no communication functions, enables data exchanges with host systems for the low-cost introduction of IoT.