Distributed Control System uses MFA controllers.
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Press Release Summary:
CyboCon Dragon Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) control system integrates control and optimization technologies with new or legacy control systems. All-in-one control unit embeds MFA controllers and offers scalable/flexible architecture with plug-in PC104 type boards. It interfaces to all existing control systems through various communication standards. Product comes with 300 MHz or faster CPU, 8 AIs, 4 AOs, 16 digital I/Os, signal conditioning board, and wiring terminals.
Original Press Release:
CyboSoft Introduces CyboCon Dragon Advanced Micro DCS
The first scalable, all-in-one distributed control system with Model-Free Adaptive controllers
Rancho Cordova, CA, Dec. 13, 2002< CyboSoft, General Cybernation Group Inc., developer of Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) control technology, today announced the introduction of CyboCon Dragon, an innovative Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) distributed control system.
CyboSoft CEO John Kehoe explains, "The CyboCon Dragon was developed to satisfy the needs of our users. By design standards, mission critical systems cannot use regulatory controllers running in PCs. By using the CyboCon Dragon, the user can alleviate these concerns and implement Model-Free Adaptive controllers that can interface to both new and legacy control systems. CyboCon Dragon is not intended to compete with DCS, but to compliment it."
"DCS in the control industry is often referred to as the "dinosaur"; but we believe when new technology like MFA control has been added to the DCS, the dinosaur can evolve into a "dragon". This is where the name CyboCon Dragon originated," commented CyboSoft Chairman and CTO, Dr. George Cheng. One of the major challenges of deploying new control technology is how to retrofit the huge installed base of control systems. A substantial amount of investment has been made in these systems. Although there is a great potential for improvement, they can be costly to retrofit. That is why we still see very old control systems running in plants where there is an urgent need for new control technology to enable flexible production, improve product quality, reduce energy consumption, and comply with ever stringent environmental protection regulations.
CyboCon Dragon is the first advanced micro distributed control system that can integrate advanced control and optimization technologies with new or legacy control systems using its unique design, size, scalability, connectivity, and user-friendliness. It includes the following features:
1. It is a complete self-sufficient, all-in-one control unit that embeds Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) controllers and other control and optimization technologies.
2. It is a small all-in-one industrial box that has a scalable and flexible architecture with simple plug-in PC104 type of boards and accessories.
3. It is equipped to interface to all existing control systems through various communication standards including standard signals of 4 to 20 mA (or 1 to 5 V), serial port, Ethernet, and fieldbus standards.
4. It includes all necessary software components and drivers for communicating with the process to be controlled and/or to the existing control systems.
5. It includes Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) controllers to control multiple simple to complex processes.
6. It is an ideal control unit; light, micro, flexible, scalable, mobile, and complete. Any number of these units can be easily networked together using a wired or wireless local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) to form a powerful large-scale distributed control system, where all variables and information can be accessed through the networks for configuration, monitoring, alarming, and reporting.
7. Based on Microsoft Windows operating environment, CyboCon Dragon supports all Internet capabilities.
CyboCon Dragon is an all-in-one rigid and scalable industrial box that contains MFA controllers and is ready to connect to legacy or new DCS/PLCs. It comes with a 300 MHz or faster CPU that runs a reduced version of Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system. Also included is either the CyboCon or CyboCon HS high-speed MFA control software, CyboMax process monitoring and optimization software, CyboLog I/O driver to support the direct I/Os, and CyboLink Device drivers to connect to all major legacy or new DCSs or PLCs through direct I/Os, serial port, Ethernet, or even fieldbus. CyboCon Dragon is also vibration proof and can be easily mounted inside the DCS cabinet.
Powered by 24 VDC, CyboCon Dragon is typically shipped with 8 AIs, 4 AOs, 16 digital I/Os, signal conditioning board, and wiring terminals to connect to standard signals (4-20mA or 1-5V). More analog and digital I/Os can be easily added. It can be shipped with a 6", or 8" enclosure depending on the number of I/O boards and accessory boards installed.
CyboCon Dragon is user-friendly and easy to install and maintain. You can plug in a keyboard, mouse, and monitor to operate the unit or you can use terminal server software such as PCAnywhere to operate it through the Ethernet from another PC. It is ideal for mission critical control applications and can be easily integrated with almost any control system. Its high-speed version can provide adaptive control signals at a 1 million second rate.
MFA is well positioned to be the main stream process controller due to these unique strategic advantages: MFA controls various simple to complex processes but requires no first-principal or identification based process models, no controller design, nor complicated manual tuning. MFA controllers offer users critical solutions to achieve (1) flexible production, (2) Six Sigma quality, (3) pollution control, and (4) cost savings.
From CyboCon Dragon, users can select various MFA controllers including: SISO MFA to replace PID and control single-variable problematic loops; Nonlinear MFA to control extremely nonlinear processes; Anti-delay MFA to control processes with large and varying time delays; MFA pH to control pH processes; Anti-delay MFA pH for controlling pH processes with large time delays, MIMO MFA to control multivariable processes; Feedforward MFA to deal with large measurable disturbances; Robust MFA to force the process variable to stay within defined bounds; Flex-phase MFA to control processes with open-loop oscillating behavior, and Time-Varying MFA to control processes with large time constant and delay time changes.
About CyboSoft
CyboSoft, General Cybernation Group Inc., is the leader in control technology serving the worldwide process control, building control, and equipment control markets. In addition to its headquarters in Rancho Cordova, Calif., the company has operations in China. CyboSoft has won multiple awards for its control technology, including "ISA President¹s Award" at ISA 2001, "Best of Show" at ISA 2000 for its CyboCon CE instrument, and the Editors Choice award from Control Engineering magazine and IAN magazine.
For more information, contact: CyboSoft, 2868 Prospect Park Drive, Suite 300, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 USA. Tel: (916) 631-6313, Fax: (916) 631-6312, e-mail: GCGroup@cybosoft.com, Web: www.cybosoft.com.
