Product category:
Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls
News Release from: GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms UK | Subject: Cimplicity/90-30 PLCs
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 12 July 2002
PLCs solve parking nightmare
Parkomat is a novel modular computerised parking system based on a network of PLCs.
Parkomat, a unique modular computerised parking system, has been designed and built in Israel Aimed for a worldwide customer base, the system is designed to help solve parking congestion and optimise the use of valuable space particularly in major cities
The fully automated handling and positioning of all vehicles is carried out under the control of GE Fanuc's software, Cimplicity, and a series of GE Fanuc 90-30 PLCs throughout the infrastructure.
The Parkomat system has been designed using the highest quality parts available, in order to achieve as close to 'zero failure' in operation as possible.
General Engineers in Israel developed the electronic and electrical control systems which includes GE Fanuc hardware and control software.
The company is responsible for the design, the engineering and the training of maintenance engineers.
General Engineers was invited in at the development stage of the control system because of its 20 years of automation experience.
A spokesman for General Engineers explained, "Our client was confident that we could satisfy major aspects of concern which were safety and reliability of the control system, through our role as a GE Fanuc representative.
We were also able to minimise the cost of components and of the manufacturing processes".
A person parking their car simply drives into the entry bay and leaves the car there.
Fitted with independent lifts for each column of cars, and independent carriers for each row, Parkomat maximises the speed of parking and retrieval.
These features also limit problems caused by any temporary mechanical breakdowns.
Since it can place more than one lift in each parking row, it allows simultaneous parking and retrieval of a number of vehicles by spreading access across a number of independent entrances.
The automated system is completely modular and can therefore be adapted to fit any size or shape of plot.
It can be built above or below ground or a combination of the two.
It can have an unlimited length and number of rows and floors, and its unique features enable 90% usage of land area compared to a typical 67% exploited by comparable systems.
Parkomat can even be operated in a radius.
Comprising a steel construction, it can be added to or reduced.
It can even be dismantled and re-assembled elsewhere should building or parking requirements change.
Each Parkomat has a main computer room where Cimplicity HMI operates on a Windows NT platform on a PC.
The systems in each lobby used for the parking and retrieval of vehicles are controlled by a 90-30 PLC.
Each lifting device employs its own 90-30 PLC, as does each carrier which moves the cars along the rows and into position.
Control from the PC in the computer room to the carrier PLCs is via a wireless TCP/IP network.
For a Parkomat handling up to 1000 cars, Cimplicity controls 1527 datapoints.
Alarms initiated by Cimplicity operate via modem back to a customer's premises.
Parkomat makes heavy usage of hydraulic systems for movement, minimising the maintenance requirements.
The limited number of moving parts are easily replaceable and can be quickly located thanks to information provided by Cimplicity.
According to Harry Trop, Manager, Industrial Automation Department for General Engineers, "Customers anywhere in the world are re-assured that when they require maintenance and servicing of the control systems, GE Fanuc with its world-wide network can satisfy their demands locally". Request a free brochure from GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms UK ...
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