Wireless System Provides Instant Plant Maintenance Data

Oct. 24, 2012
Mobile system allows field personnel to interactively problem-solve with offsite experts.

Emerson has released Mobile Worker: Voice and Video, a communications technology designed to help process manufacturers save time and money on plant maintenance and troubleshooting. Emerson partnered with AudiSoft to deliver a hands-free, high-definition voice and video solution that plant personnel can wear into remote field locations anywhere in the world. 

From the problem area, the field engineer can securely visually and verbally communicate live via a Wi-Fi access point, cellular or satellite wireless connection with remote experts who, from their laptop or PC, can see and diagnose the problem, then instruct the field engineer through the problem’s resolution.

The Mobile Worker kit includes a video camera and noise-cancelling microphone that attach to a hardhat, a small touch-screen interface that straps to the chest and an additional handheld video camera that can zoom into areas too small for the headset camera to access. From any area where a wireless signal can be reached, HD, VGA or QVGA video (depending on available signal strength and bandwidth) can reach either a PC loaded with the Frontline Expert software or a dedicated server or host subscriber via a web browser.

The Mobile Worker kit is rated for ATEX Zone 2 use, with Class 1 Division 2 certification available in the near future.

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