telecontrol

Telecontrol is the remote operation of equipment and processes by transmitting control commands and receiving telemetry over a communications link. It enables distant devices to be started, stopped, configured, or regulated without on-site human presence. Telecontrol is a fundamental capability of supervisory control and data acquisition systems and is distinct from fully manual teleoperation or autonomous control, though it often supports automated routines.

In a typical telecontrol system, field devices such as sensors, actuators, remote terminal units or programmable logic controllers gather measurements and execute commands. A central control center runs supervisory software that interprets data, makes decisions, and issues telecontrol commands. The communication network links these sites, permitting bidirectional exchange of measurements, alarms, and control signals.

Standards and protocols include IEC 60870-5 (Series 101, 104), DNP3, and Modbus for industrial automation, with IEC 61850 used in substation automation. Modern implementations increasingly rely on IP-based networks and secure layers. System design emphasizes reliability, determinism, and fault tolerance, often incorporating redundancy, watchdogs, and offline backups.

Applications span electric power grids, water and wastewater systems, oil and gas pipelines, transportation signaling, and manufacturing processes. Commands may include on/off control, setpoint changes, trip or close actions, and configuration updates, with telemetry reporting current status, energy use, and alarms.

Telecontrol raises safety and security considerations. Fail-safe design, authorization and authentication, encryption, and intrusion detection are common. Latency, bandwidth, and network reliability influence performance. In practice, telecontrol complements local control and supervisory strategies to improve efficiency, safety, and remote management.