Kazio Networks

I am surprised that it has taken this long for someone to come out with a SCADA iPhone app. Sweet William Automation has come out with an app interface (called SCADAMobile) to access and monitor tag variables/ memory of PLCs via the iPhone. This will allow any plant engineer to know the state of their industrial processes and for PLC programmers to have instant access to their systems.

SCADAMobile currently lists for $74.99 on Apple’s app store and tailored to Omron PLCs for now. It can be used as a standalone monitoring device or as an add-on to current remote access servers. Security is guaranteed through encrypted passwords and TCP/IP tunneling.

It remains to be seen if there will be further support for other PLC manufacturers like Allen-Bradley, Siemens, GE etc. I guess it would all depend on the demand of this app — that’s a tough one, as I see more engineers having Windows Mobile and Blackberrys then iPhones. The proprietary/legal aspect of tapping into the PLCs made by the relevant manufacturers may also be a stumbling block. Nevertheless, it’s a nice option for remote monitoring.

Here are the features per their spec page:

Key Features

ScadaMobile provides many possibilities designed to meet all PLC remote monitoring needs.

-Monitor (display and change) PLC variables (tags) through local or remote wireless access.
-Supported types are boolean, both signed and unsigned 16 and 32 bit integers, and 32 bit floating point.
-Optional automatic scaling of the variables being monitored (v2.0).
-Edition of variables directly from the iPhone application and the ability to import files created in Excel, Word or Open Office containing the specification of variables
-Access to files and settings via Web browser: Safari, Firefox or Microsoft Explorer.
-Highly optimized engine for communications with the PLC allowing a large number of variables (literally tens of thousands) with a minimum of network traffic.
-Ability to set various access levels with password to prevent accidental modification of variables or display of sensible data.

Specific support for OMRON PLCs
ScadaMobile is available for OMRON programmable logic controllers, for which includes the following additional features.

-Monitor all areas of memory including: IO bit, IO channel, DM area, Work Bit, Work Channel, Timer/Counter area, HR Bit, HR Channel, EM area, and AR area.
-Supports all CJ1 and CS1 series PLCs, as well as most older models with TCP / IP connection.
-Supported CX-Programmer-generated ‘cxr’ files for direct import of selected variables without any additional step.

Other Features
ScadaMobile connects directly to the PLC without routing through servers or personal computers, using a direct TCP/IP link between the iPhone and the PLC, with minimal configuration.
The package contains “out of the box” several configuration file examples created in Microsoft Excel or CX-Programmer that can be used as templates for your own developments.

Link to ScadaMobile in the App Store