Innovator/Achiever

The VALS model was developed by SRI international. The original model was revised as VALS 2 in 1989. The basic assumption is consumer behavior can be predicted from the consumer psychology. The marketing tool is used extensively for product launched, better marketing efforts and studying the target segment in a better fashion. To take the VALS (Values and Lifestyles) survey click here. The model classifies a customer in 8 different categories. The survey needs information pertaining to age, sex and gross income and list of questions. The survey should not take more than 10 minutes.

The VALS2 survey classified me as Innovator (primary characteristic) and Achiever (secondary characteristic). According to the model being an Innovator I am primarily motivated by ideals and achievements and self-expression.

MTConnect Live

The MTConnect EMC2 Linux CNC simulator is now available online at http://agent.mtconnect.org/probe. One can test and play with the protocol, understand the XML schema and also use it as a testing source for building custom client applications. Current versions of EMC are entirely licensed under the GNU General Public License and Lesser GNU General Public License (GPL and LGPL). Both the LinuxCNC and EMC are non commercial efforts.

The agent is running in a continual spiral program that automatically restarts after 30 second pause. The output of the adapter can be tested using telnet at agent.mtconnect.org (port 7878). To get a sample of monitored parameters visit: http://agent.mtconnect.org/sample. To get current values of the monitored parameters visit: http://agent.mtconnect.org/current.

MTConnect Software Developer Kit Workshops

Learn how to build an adapter for MTConnect at the SDK Workshop. The workshop will be held at TechSolve, Inc. Cincinnati on June 12-13, 2008. To effectively participate in the hands-on development exercises-

*Each participant should bring their own laptop with WIFI capability and standard installation of Windows 2000, XP or Vista. Laptop should be loaded with-

*IE 6.0 or later, of Firefox Version 2.0 or later

*Microsoft.NET Version 3.5 (free download from Microsoft website)

*Visual Studio 2005 or later

*Review of the draft MTConnect Version 0.9.9 standard

Knowledge-based Systems

Last week I delivered a presentation on the knowledge-based supervisory system at the Society for Machinery Failure Prevention Technology 62^nd conference. The presentation was accompanied with a live demonstration of the knowledge based system and also MTConnect standard. The presentation covered the concept of multiple process module monitoring and control which enables vertical integration in the machine domain. Technically it is defined as the “A system that integrates and coordinates multiple process monitoring and control modules such that a globally optimal machining solution could be delivered real-time for desired quality and maximum productivity”.

The presentation is available as a PDF file. The complete article can be found here.