PLCnext Technology
PLCnext Technology is the name of an ecosystem for industrial automation. The basis of the open system is a technical innovation of the runtime environment which enables real-time execution in programmable logic controllers (PLCs) for different programming languages. It was invented by the automation and electronics manufacturer Phoenix Contact.
Background to development[edit]
PLCs ensure that manufacturing processes in industrial automation are implemented correctly. Robustness, reliability and safety are particularly important in industrial environments.[1] Closed proprietary systems consisting of a controller and programming environment therefore dominate the PLC world.[2] Based on an operating system, the manufacturer-specific runtime systems perform the task of executing the program in real time, which is referred to as scheduling. They are also responsible for the consistent exchange of process data. The advantage of this type of system architecture is that the user does not come into contact with the operating system.[3] At the same time, however, this also means that only limited adjustments can be made to the control systems. In today's context of increasingly flexible production systems and smaller batch sizes, this is leading to more and more disadvantages.[3][4]
Instead of the classic production hierarchy, the Industrie 4.0 future project demands cyber-physical systems (CPS), which independently exchange information and interact with each other.[5][6][7] As a result, a fundamental shift towards more openness and flexibility is taking place at all levels of the automation pyramid.[8]
PLCnext Technology enables a classic PLC to be developed into an open control platform in which program sequences written in different programming languages can be combined. Implementations for fieldbus connections, Modbus, cloud connectivity, and algorithms for image processing (openCV), for example, can be realized through the integration of open-source software.[4] Programs can be extended quickly and flexibly by adding new functions in the form of apps or by means of a function block programmed by the user. The technology ensures that there are no undesirable effects on existing sections of the program. The exchange of data is regulated and synchronized.
Method of operation[edit]
The Execution and Synchronization Manager (ESM) allows equivalent handling/execution of programs from different programming domains.[2] Programs from different programming languages can therefore be arranged in a defined time sequence. The patented task handling system enables programs to be combined in accordance with the international IEC 61131-3 standard, high-level languages, and model-based tools with a high degree of real time performance.[9] This allows, for example, program modules that have been programmed in Matlab Simulink, C/C++ or C# to be executed.[10] Thus, PLCnext Technology is addressing the trend towards more high-level language programming in the industrial environment.[11]
The Global Data Space (GDS) simultaneously ensures the cycle-consistent exchange of process data between programs of different domains such as Matlab Simulink, C++, C#, and the IEC 61131-3 languages, as well as between fieldbus systems and all items of equipment within the system, also the cloud, for example.[12] The patented real-time exchange of data is task-consistent, even if the program sequence is interrupted by a higher priority task.[13]
Ecosystem components[edit]
PLCnext Technology comprises various components of an ecosystem for industrial automation.
PLCnext Control[edit]
The central elements of the ecosystem are the controllers of the PLCnext Control family including the PLCnext Runtime System firmware platform. Two controllers are currently available on the market. The AXC F 2152 controller, with a 2 x 800 MHz ARM processor, is designed in particular for small and medium applications. The high-performance RFC 4072S, which is based on an Intel i5 processor with integrated safety PLC, is available for applications that need more computing power and safety functions.[14] I/O (Input/output) modules of the Axioline F series can be arranged side-by-side directly next to the PLCnext Control AXC F 2152.[15] Axioline F is the modular block-based I/O system from Phoenix Contact which enables real-time data transmission. The I/O system supports Profinet, Modbus TCP, EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, and Sercos III for communication via Industrial Ethernet, as well as the most widely used serial fieldbus system, Profibus.[16]
PLCnext Engineer[edit]
PLCnext Engineer is the development environment created by Phoenix Contact for configuring, commissioning, and programming the controllers of the PLCnext Control family in accordance with IEC 61131-3.[17] PLCnext Engineer can also be used purely as a configuration tool for the orchestration of high-level language code.
PLCnext Store[edit]
The PLCnext Store is an online trading platform in which software functions (apps) developed by both Phoenix Contact and third-party providers for the control platform are available for downloading. The apps range from function blocks, function extensions, cloud connectors through to other runtime environments such as Codesys, which can be used to extend the PLCnext Control to include additional programming languages such as IEC 61499 and Node.js for the use of JavaScript and Node-RED.[18] The PLCnext Store is available to software developers as a trading platform for apps they have developed themselves. Here, the developers can set their own price for their software solutions – the licensing process and sales transactions are managed by Phoenix Contact.[19]
PLCnext Community[edit]
The exchange via community platforms and sharing of source code is considered by much of the automation industry as useful and long overdue. Along with a corporate website and online community, users also have the option, for example, of sharing source code via the GitHub open-source platform.[4]
See also[edit]
Internet links[edit]
- https://www.phoenixcontact.com/plcnext
- https://www.plcnextstore.com - online trading platform
- https://www.plcnext-community.net - online community platform
References[edit]
- ↑ Markus Weinländer (2017), Industrielle Kommunikation: Basistechnologie für die Digitalisierung der Industrie 4.0 (in German), Vde Verlag GmbH, pp. 21 ff., ISBN 9783410268574CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hans-Jürgen Koch, Holger Meyer. "Steuerungsplattform für eine sich ändernde Welt". SPS Magazin 6/2017 (in Deutsch). TeDo Verlag GmbH.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Michael Gulsch (2018-09-14). "Unabhängige Systemintegration". A&D (in Deutsch). publish-industry Verlag GmbH.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Christian Vilsbeck (2019-02-09). "Open Source in der Automatisierung". A&D (in Deutsch). publish-industry Verlag GmbH.
- ↑ Heiner Lasi, Hans-Georg Kemper, Peter Fettke, Thomas Feld (2014), "Industrie 4.0", Wirtschaftsinformatik : WI : Organ der Fachbereichs Wirtschaftsinformatik der Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. und der Wissenschaftlichen Kommission Wirtschaftsinformatik im Verband der Hochschullehrer für Betriebswirtschaft e.V (in German), Springer Gabler, pp. 261-264CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
- ↑ Dr. Ralf Sauter, Dr. Maximilian Bode, Daniel Kittelberger (2015). "Wie Industrie 4.0 die Steuerung der Wertschöpfung verändert" (in Deutsch). Horváth & Partners.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
- ↑ Bernd Müller, Frank Härtig (2017), Stefan Reinheimer, ed., "Herausforderungen und Lösungsansätze zur einheitlichen Kommunikation von Messdaten für Industrie 4.0 und das Internet of Things", Industrie 4.0: Herausforderungen, Konzepte und Praxisbeispiele (in German), Springer Verlag, pp. 50ff.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
- ↑ Michael Gulsch, "Die Freiheit nehmen", iee (in German), Hüthig GmbH (6/2018), pp. 36-38CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
- ↑ Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG, 2018, Ablaufsteuerung von Programmmodulen, application: 2016-11-10. DE, patent specification DE102016121542, 2018-05-17
- ↑ Andre Brand, Andreas Weichelt (2017-11-15). "PLCnext-Technologie von Phoenix Contact arbeitet in Echtzeit". KEM 11/2017 (in Deutsch). Konradin-Verlag Robert Kohlhammer GmbH.
- ↑ Robert Weber (2017-10-10). "Welche Sprache spricht die Industrie?". factory (in Deutsch). WEKA Industrie Medien GmbH.
- ↑ Andre Brand, Andreas Weichelt (2017-12-18). "Axioline-Steuerung basiert auf der Technologieplattform". wirautomatisierer.de (in Deutsch). Konradin-Verlag Robert Kohlhammer GmbH.
- ↑ Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG, 2018, Austausch von Echtzeitdaten zwischen Programmmodulen, application: 2016-11-10. DE, patent specification DE102016121541, 2018-05-17
- ↑ Hans-Jürgen Koch, Ulrich Leidecker (2018). "Wir haben geöffnet". SPS-Magazin (in Deutsch). TeDo Verlag GmbH.
- ↑ Kauth, Steffen (2018). "PLCnext Control AXC F 2152". SPS Magazin.
- ↑ David Rogers, Reinhold Schäfer (2015-06-29). "Echtzeit-I/O-System arbeitet mit gängigen Busprotokollen". MaschinenMarkt (in Deutsch). Vogel Communications Group.
- ↑ Robert Wilmes (2018-10-29). "Per OPC UA ins Industrial IoT". Markt&Technik (in Deutsch). WEKA FACHMEDIEN GmbH.
- ↑ Michael Gulsch, Gerd Kucera (2019-03-25). "PLCnext: Offene Plattform für simultanes Engineering". ELEKTRONIKPRAXIS (in Deutsch). Vogel Communications Group.
- ↑ Katharina Juschkat (2018-10-29). "Phoenix Contact präsentiert PLC Next Store auf der SPS IPC Drives". elektrotechnik (in Deutsch). Vogel Communications Group.
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