PLCnext Technology Open Control Platform
Published on : Friday 11-10-2019
In recent years, automation technology has undergone rapid change. Examples of this include the Internet of Things (IoT), Industrie 4.0 or the constantly growing threat posed by unauthorised access attempts and malware. But what does this mean for manufacturers and users? And what opportunities could arise from such technological developments? The new PLCnext Technology for the up-and-coming controllers from Phoenix Contact provides practical answers.
Like its customers, Phoenix Contact as a traditional manufacturer and a driving force for innovation in automation technology is constantly trying to determine which future trends are really relevant and which solutions the current and future market will expect in this context. It is important to identify the individual aspects of new technological trends and to then determine their impact on the daily work of developers and the needs of users. One thing that the users groups are concerned about is how they can bring solutions to market faster than their competitors. They also want to be able to offer an ever-increasing number of product versions with minimal effort and to meet the IT security needs of as many different applications as possible. Can the challenges of the forward-looking Industrie 4.0 project be met? In any case, the relevant approaches will contribute to successful business operations.
Hardware-independent platform based on Linux
A Linux real-time operating system forms the basis of this new control platform. We can take advantage of all of the Linux benefits for example, the expertise and free programs such as an SQL server, software blocks and technologies from the open source community – but very conveniently in the framework of a controlled system.
Programs can be created in any language
Developers are able to continue programming in their preferred languages, alongside the classic IEC 61131-3 languages – i.e., FBD, LD, SFC, and ST; high-level languages such as C++ and C# are also supported. Furthermore, model-based programming – for example Matlab Simulink – being used in particular for control technology applications is also supported.
Current and future transmission standards are supported
Dynamic market changes make it necessary to solve automation tasks in accordance with Industrie 4.0 approaches. Uniform protocols, rules, and standards for communication are required to intelligently link machine and system components.
The OPC Unified Architecture Standard, OPC UA, is being adopted more widely as the new market standard and provides the basis for open and standardised communication in the digital future. OPC UA is an integral component of PLCnext Technology, thus making it compatible for integration into third-party systems in the long term.
In addition, PLCnext Technology works with proven PROFICLOUD services and also supports the integration of proprietary cloud solutions. This represents a step toward preventive diagnostics and IoT. Conventional fieldbus systems – such as PROFIBUS, CAN, Modbus/RTU, and INTERBUS – as well as real-time Ethernet standards – e.g., PROFINET and Modbus/TCP – are of course also supported. PLCnext Technology is therefore consistently designed for the later integration of additional protocols so that users can respond flexibly to future developments.
Access security in accordance with IEC 62443
Now and in future, industry-specific requirements for IT security should be added to the existing functions. Network security and remote maintenance are undoubtedly important in this context, but there is more to IT security than these considerations. Demands on modern systems include integrity, availability, and above all the confidentiality of all data. This is only possible with a deep integration of different mechanisms and procedures on all levels of PLCnext Technology, as well as the PC Worx Engineer development environment. PLCnext Technology therefore offers security by design, so that security aspects can be implemented according to the leading international standard IEC 62443. IT security is therefore no longer an obstacle, but is the key to new project ideas based on PLCnext Technology.
With PLCnext Technology, Phoenix Contact meets the needs of developers and users in a simple manner. This makes it possible to shorten development times, minimise costs, and enables the people involved to focus on the project and their core tasks.
Phoenix Contact India Pvt Ltd, New Delhi. Email: [email protected]
