Industrial automation in hazardous environments has traditionally required a costly separation: critical decisions are made in control rooms, while employees on site execute the procedures remotely. This disconnect creates communication delays and information gaps that compromise efficiency and safety. The Mobile Operator Panel from i.safe MOBILE eliminates this barrier by extending complete HMI functionality directly into Zone 1/21 and Zone 2/22 environments through fully certified explosion-protected hardware.
Certified Architecture
The system pairs the intrinsically safe tablets from i.safe MOBILE, the Android-based IS940.1 or the Windows-based IS945.1, with the IS-CS1A.1 Connectivity System. Interface modules mount within Ex-rated enclosures while docking stations maintain continuous power and data transfer. Through Ex-approved barriers, the system preserves Ethernet, USB, and power connections with full ATEX and IECEx compliance. Standard RDP or VNC protocols connect to existing SCADA and DCS systems without infrastructure modifications.
SIMOPS: Maximum Value Demonstration
Simultaneous Operations showcase the technology's impact. When maintenance crews work alongside production operations, coordination complexity multiplies. Traditional approaches rely on radio communication and paper permits, creating latency as information passes through control rooms.
Mobile panels transform this. Field supervisors access live process schematics showing valve positions, pressure readings, and isolation status. Permit holders verify safe work boundaries by reviewing actual equipment states. During catalyst regeneration at petrochemical facilities, process operators, mechanical teams, contractors, and safety personnel access specific information independently. Mechanical crews verify depressurization before opening vessels. Contractors confirm utility specifications. Process operators monitor boundary conditions. Coordination occurs through shared visibility of plant conditions rather than verbal updates, eliminating interpretation errors when operational tempo matters most.
Operational Improvements
Response times decrease when operators access diagnostics at equipment locations. Maintenance becomes more targeted as technicians review equipment history on-site. Pharmaceutical cleanroom operations benefit significantly: mobile panels at entry points enable batch monitoring without breaking environmental barriers, preserving GMP integrity.
The docking station approach deliberately avoids wireless dependency. Industrial environments present RF challenges—metal structures create shadow zones, process
equipment generates interference. Fixed installations provide guaranteed connectivity while devices operate independently between docking events, displaying cached graphics and trends. This hybrid model ensures reliable access regardless of wireless performance.
Bridging Automation and Reality
Industrial operations generate vast data streams that become useful only when available at decision points. Mobile HMI technology closes this gap, placing actionable information where operational reality demands it. Control rooms retain coordination roles, but routine decisions and immediate responses now occur at the point of work.
The Mobile Operator Panel from i.safe MOBILE delivers control system access safely into hazardous zones through certified devices, enabling distributed, responsive operations. For industries operating in explosion-hazardous environments, this represents a fundamental shift: technology serving field reality, bridging automation sophistication with operational pragmatism where it matters most.
