Computer/Embedded Technology


Open-source industrial PLCs and panel PCs

23 September 2015 Computer/Embedded Technology

RS Components is now stocking the Industrial Shields range of PLCs and panel PCs, which combines the advantages of open-source hardware withthe reliability of industrial-standard products.

In the past few years the flexibility of open-source development boards has eased the design process for electronic engineers, enabling faster prototyping for cutting-edge applications, especially in the Internet of Things (IoT) space. The Industrial Shields PLCs and panel PCs are based on the most popular open-source development boards, such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi and Hummingboards, and can be programmed in exactly the same way. This characteristic allows engineers to go from prototype to industrialisation using the same flexible programming code.

The PLC portfolio comprises ARDBOX compact PLCs based on the Arduino Leonardo board, and M-DUINO Ethernet PLCs based on the Arduino Mega board. All operate from a supply voltage of 12 – 24 V d.c., and can be programmed and monitored via the Arduino IDE platform.

ARDBOX compact PLCs are available in two different versions with up to 20 I/Os, giving a choice of digital, analog and relay outputs. The M-DUINO series offers five different versions with up to 58 I/Os. All units support I²C communication allowing I/O expansion by connecting multiple units together. USB, RS-232 and RS-485 communication ports are also provided.

The panel PCs are open-source programmable, 10,1” capacitive touchscreens available in three different versions. HummTOUCH Android and HummTOUCH Linux give a choice of popular operating systems running on the Hummingboard ARM-based single-board computer. TOUCHBERRY Pi, based on the Raspberry Pi, runs the Raspbian Linux operating system.

All the usual communication ports including Ethernet, USB, SPI Serial TTL and I²C are provided, and the units can be programmed quickly via the USB port using the Arduino IDE that is based on the open-source Processing language.

For more information contact RS Components, +27 (0)11 691 9300, sales.za@rs-components.com, www.rsonline.co.za



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