PC Automation has been the talk of the automation industry for a long time. Quite understandably: Wouldn’t it be nice to have all control functions and Graphic interface in one, easy to operate, compact package ? The idea of using a PC to perform control functions was always extremely attractive.

DCS, PLC or RTU manufacturers have been designing their systems using various kinds of processors programmed in assembly language and including a limited set of functions. Those who created the first PC based control systems had access not only to the processing power of the PC CPU, but also to the extended functionality provided by the PC architecture.

However, until recently, there has been one knock on majority of PC control technology on the market: stability, reliability, cost!, all concerns very high on engineers’, operators’ and integrators’ agenda.

Well, enter the new era of stable Windows 2000 (article) and cheap Pentium PC platforms. Where once a simple PLC was a reigning ruler, a comparably priced PC controller has emerged. Moreover, due to a growing need for integrated systems with external OPC or DDE links and a database / logs / graphs / statistics capabilities, a simple local control has in many instances lost it’s appeal.

In addition to the above capabilities, the PC controllers add the integrated Graphic User Interface (HMI) into the mix, making up for a combination that is hard to beat.

Consider the apparent advantages of a PC based open controller ->.

Notably though, not every project and application warrants an open, PC based controller. You may want to opt for a traditional PLC control if you are faced with application that does not call for Open Controller, such as ->.

The purpose of open control is to give the engineer the freedom of choice of the hardware platform, the operating system and the software architecture. A major supplier of automation solutions typically provide three or four product lines and requires you to fit your application within their product offering. Open Control lets you address the problem from your perspective. Instead of fitting your application into a pre-defined architecture, you can design your own, based on hardware and software components, to exactly meet your requirements while drastically reducing costs and time to market.

PC based open control systems not only provide basic functions such as control and data acquisition, but millisecond time stamping, data quality check, sequence of events, redundancy and even alarming and trending on the controller itself. It will enable you to add function blocks, communications drivers or any other functionality required by your application. Open Control systems will also support most of the industry communication protocols to give you freedom of choice and future upgrade capabilities.

And the question of Reliability ? Today, hundreds of thousands of open control systems are running everywhere around the world: ranging from tiny embedded controllers for ambient temperature control to hefty bullet train control systems or nuclear reactor controllers. Open Control is everywhere’ and for a reason!