# Sensing at the Control Level: Leveraging Data for Both Safety and Analytics

- Show: [Moore's Lobby](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby)
- Published: 2026-05-19
- Length: 53m
- Episode: 3
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2026-05-19-sensing-at-the-control-level-leveraging-data-for-both-safety-and-analytics
- Listen: https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/podcast/sensing-at-the-control-level-leveraging-data-for-both-safety-and-analytics

## Summary

Kate Sokolnicki, Global Business Director for Rockwell Automation's Sensing & Safety business unit, explains the shift from simple on/off sensors to smart devices providing dual-channel process and health data. She details how IO-Link and GuardLink protocols enable condition monitoring and precise fault identification in daisy-chained safety systems, reducing troubleshooting time. Sokolnicki emphasizes that while AI and vision systems are commoditized, their value depends on robust metadata and edge computing, urging young engineers to prioritize practical 'back-of-the-napkin' math over pure theory.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2026-05-19-sensing-at-the-control-level-leveraging-data-for-both-safety-and-analytics#t=0) Introduction: Kate Sokolnicki and Rockwell Automation
- [1:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2026-05-19-sensing-at-the-control-level-leveraging-data-for-both-safety-and-analytics#t=66) Sokolnicki's Background: Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Detour
- [4:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2026-05-19-sensing-at-the-control-level-leveraging-data-for-both-safety-and-analytics#t=274) IO-Link and the Commoditization of Vision Sensing
- [12:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2026-05-19-sensing-at-the-control-level-leveraging-data-for-both-safety-and-analytics#t=736) AI, Metadata, and the Challenge of Data Mountains
- [19:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2026-05-19-sensing-at-the-control-level-leveraging-data-for-both-safety-and-analytics#t=1150) Safety Sensing Standards and GuardLink Protocols
- [25:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2026-05-19-sensing-at-the-control-level-leveraging-data-for-both-safety-and-analytics#t=1505) Condition Monitoring: Light Curtains and Cable Tension
- [32:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2026-05-19-sensing-at-the-control-level-leveraging-data-for-both-safety-and-analytics#t=1963) Engineering vs. Business Value of Analytics
- [44:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2026-05-19-sensing-at-the-control-level-leveraging-data-for-both-safety-and-analytics#t=2697) Advice to Young Engineers: Back-of-the-Napkin Math

## Topics

- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Rockwell Automation (company)
- IO-Link (tool)
- GuardLink (tool)
- Allen-Bradley (company)
- First Robotics (other)
- MQTT (tool)
- OPC UA (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Making Industrial IoT Work: Lessons from 30 Years in Automation with Grace Technologies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-12-19-making-industrial-iot-work-lessons-from-30-years-in-automation-with-grace-techno) (Over the Air)
- [Vinsa’s Daniel Bruce | Empowering IoT Automation with Visual AI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-06-22-vinsas-daniel-bruce-empowering-iot-automation-with-visual-ai) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Your Machines Have a Heartbeat: Here's What It's Telling You | Ep #48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-08-28-your-machines-have-a-heartbeat-heres-what-its-telling-you-ep-48) (Lights Out)
- [AI and IoT in the Mining Industry | Razor Labs' Michael Zolotov | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2025-05-28-ai-and-iot-in-the-mining-industry-razor-labs-michael-zolotov-internet-of-things) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Embedded Systems and IoT Connectivity: Lessons from Automate 2024](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-05-22-embedded-systems-and-iot-connectivity-lessons-from-automate-2024) (Over the Air)

## Citing this page

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