Edge programmable industrial controller adds IEC 61131-3

Adding these new programming options to the existing flowchart and custom user-written options in groov EPIC gives control engineers the ability to program using a variety of languages they already know, while taking advantage of the EPIC’s extended capabilities for automation and industrial internet of things (IIoT) applications. All IEC 61131-3 standard languages are supported by groov EPIC, including Function Block Diagram (FBD), Structured Text (ST), Sequential Function Charts (SFC), and Ladder Diagram (LD).

Adding the IEC 61131-3 option gives engineers several advantages. First, they can pick the best software tool for their specific application. Second, they can mix and match several software tools to build control and IIoT solutions on one unified platform. Finally, companies can continue to leverage existing employee knowledge in IEC 61131-3 programming methods, including decades-old ladder logic.

The PC-based CODESYS® Development System V3 is used to create and compile IEC 61131-3 programs for download to a pre-installed CODESYS Runtime running on groov EPIC. The CODESYS Development System is available at no charge from the CODESYS Store at https://store.codesys.com. The CODESYS Runtime on groov EPIC is enabled by a free software license available from Opto 22.

“As the world’s leading manufacturer of independent IEC 61131-3 software,” says Markus Bachmann, President of the U.S. subsidiary of the CODESYS Group, “We are excited that CODESYS has been chosen to boost Opto 22’s groov EPIC to the next level in industrial automation products, integrating state-of-the-art industrial control with new IIoT and Industry 4.0 applications.”

In addition to IEC 61131-3, groov EPIC can also be programmed using Opto 22’s native PAC Control™. Field-proven, flowchart-based PAC Control with optional scripting offers 400+ plain English commands for analog process and digital sequential control, complex math, conditional branching, string handling, and other complex functions. Other programming options include using software languages supported on the Linux® operating system through secure shell. This access—along with toolchains and interpreters for Java, C/C++, Python, JavaScript/Node.js and more—allows developers to create custom applications. In addition, groov EPIC includes Node-RED as another programming option. Node-RED uses a flow-based development environment optimized for edge data processing and communications.

According to Benson Hougland, VP Marketing & Product Strategy at Opto 22, the primary objective behind the addition of IEC 61131-3 programming methods to the programmable controller's existing methods (flowcharting and higher-level user-written code) was to allow end-users in all industries—particularly packaging for the purposes of this newsletter—to leverage existing training these companies may have invested in.

“The IEC 61131-3 programming standard includes five well known methods for developing control applications, with arguably the most popular method being ladder diagram,” Hougland says. “Many electricians, technicians, and even some operators are familiar with ladder diagram, either through trade schools or college, or even on-the-job training. This language's ubiquity in packaging equipment systems means many companies train their employees on how to troubleshoot issues should they occur on the plant floor.

“This addition of IEC 61131-3 is also important to OEMs of packaging machinery. For similar reasons, OEMs have trained programming staff well versed in ladder diagram, and many of the other languages like Function Block Diagram, Structured Text, and Sequential Function Charts.

“But many OEMs are also looking to apply Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) capabilities to their equipment. And in these cases, IEC 61131-3 isn't enough to perform such IIoT tasks as conversing with databases, consuming web services, exchanging data with cloud services, edge analytics, and much more. This is where the groov EPIC platform excels: allowing several higher-level programming methods to augment traditional controls programming, such as C/C++, Python, Java, and more, and providing the tools for today OEMs to build state-of-the-art machinery for tomorrow,” Houghland concludes.