Summary:

Next generation PLC can be fully customizable solution that which can provides an open control platform in which software engineers can simultaneously run previously incompatible programming languages. This gives PLCnext an unprecedented amount of flexibility that organizations can harness to meet the challenges of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) revolution.

Solution:

Current PLC: PLCs have simple program execution scans, but with limited memory and discrete input/output (I/O). Modern PLCs are capable of high-speed I/O, sequencing, and proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control in addition to digital and analog I/O.

Many PLCs have built-in networks enabling the communication between multiple PLCs, the distribution of I/O’s, and communication between human-machine interfaces (HMIs) and supervisory-control and data-acquisition (SCADA) systems. PLCs are particularly useful for simpler processes and smaller automation projects that do not require rapid scalability.

Next Gen PLC: Next Gen PLC is designed for the possibility of connecting different worlds, languages, and generations. Today’s industries are seeing a seismic shift: IT/OT convergence into the IIoT. So-called “smart devices” in the IIoT still serve their operational functions, but, as they communicate with each other and connect to the internet, they also have an IT component. This brings numerous benefits, but it also creates new problems.

PLCnext bridges the gap between these two worlds. At its heart, it is a ruggedized computer designed to withstand extreme conditions and provide high reliability. Just like with any other PLC, the manufacturer’s goal was to create the fastest system possible with the least amount of hardware.

Software, on the other hand, is what sets PLCnext apart from other PLCs. It provides a flexible set of tools and a space where embedded developers worldwide can share technologies, software stacks, configurations, and best practices that can be used to create tailored Linux images for embedded and IOT devices. Languages it supports like Ladder Diagram (LD) alongside high-level IT languages like Java, C++, and Python.

Next Gen PLC represents the transition at the device level. Instead of forcing companies to use separate terminals for OT and IT functions, this device enables an integrated approach on a single unit. Engineers can immediately access the best of both worlds. They can harness the advantages of IEC 61131–3 languages while still maintaining access to the benefits of high-level IT languages.