Automation Applications
The possibilities for automation applications using Barix Barionet are endless. Anything, that can be done using a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), can be done with Barionet in a more efficient way. This is because Barionet is a step further from PLC - it's a PAC (Programmable Automation Controller).
A few examples of some projects that have successfully used Barionet:
- Wastewater pump stations, independent or synchronized over internet
- Heating Control system with multiple PID loops
- Irrigation System Control
- Remote Telecommunication Site Controller
- Lightning Control
- Ventilation Control
- Remote Reading of utility readings
- etc.
An important difference of the systems based on PAC compared to the systems based on PLC-c is the ease of future development, expansion and integration. The powerful and open communication abilities are very important here: Barionet can talk to virtually any device willing to talk and there is no problem communicating with several devices simultaneously either. Barionet can also be used to set up some cooperation between various existing systems, which cannot directly talk to each other. Introducing coordination and information sharing between separate systems can result in remarkable savings. For example, independent and unaware of each other heating and cooling systems in the same building can easily waste huge amounts of energy. Also other building systems (security, access control, lightning and ventilation) could benefit of information sharing, as they can operate in a more optimal way using bits of information already present in some other system.
The information sharing abilities are not limited to one building of course. External sources of information can be used to "fine tune" the behavior of systems controlled by Barionet(s) or add features to the Barionet based applications using external computing power. A few examples here are:
- Weather forecasts can be used to change the heating mode well before actual outside temperature change - this is especially beneficial for concrete buildings with remarkable thermal inertia
- Timing schedules can be imported from external calendar server like Google Calendar
- User profiles (for access systems for example) can be centrally predefined and automatically distributed
- Time-lines or other graphics to be shown on the Barionet web-interface can be prepared on external servers (like Google Charts for example)
