Year 2000 (Y2K) Embedded Systems & Infrastructure Problem Message Board

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Technology Stocks : Year 2000 (Y2K) Embedded Systems & Infrastructure Problem

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To: C.K. Houston who wrote ()	5/3/1998 10:42:00 AM
From: Alastair McIntosh	of 618

CK, I am not familiar with factory automation, but I do have some knowledge of water and waste water treatment plants and pumping stations. Most of the "embedded" chips process measurements of pressure, temperature, flow, density, chemical properties, etc. and do not have a clock function. Of those that do have a clock or timer, many of these do not have a calendar function but measure time intervals between events without reference to days, weeks, months or years. The most common calendar functions are day/night and weekday/weekend. Some of the calendar functions are strictly for reporting. It is a nuisance but not catastrophic if events reported for Jan 1, 2000 are dated Jan. 1, 1900. If there is a disruption caused by an incorrect rollover of a calendar in most cases the plant or portion of the plant affected can be operated in a local or manual mode. As far as identifying problem chips, the vast majority can be identified by a review of the "as-built" instrumentation drawings (copies of which are retained by the both the consulting engineer and the owner of the facility) and reviewing data from the chip supplier. In general, one should not have to physically check each chip. One of the best known suppliers of Programmable Logic Controllers used in plant process control and instrumentation is the Allen-Bradley division of Rockwell. The status of their controllers can be viewed at: ragts.com The site listed above confirms that most of their controllers either do not have a clock function or if they do have a clock will roll over correctly. Does this mean that there will be no problems with Y2K in sewage and water systems? Of course not. I do however believe that the problems will be isolated and manageable. Al

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