Datasheet

Distributed DA&C SystemsProgrammable Automation Controllers & Software
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Programmable Automation
Controllers
How Will PAC's Penetrate the PLC Market?
PAC’s focus on complex control applications, rather than displace the traditional configurations of simple control applications, where PLC’s currently work very well.
Complex control applications need a PAC’s flexibility, so users can customize and optimize it to meet their particular requirements for controlling and automating both machines and
plants. All parts of the PAC system are designed to maximize software and hardware integration. There should be one programming and engineering tool for a complete system. This
capability includes transparent access for all parameters and functions within the entire system, combining PLC, remote I/O, motion control, drives, PID control, and data handling,
along with a maximum integration level to the enterprise though the use of Ethernet TCP/IP, Internet, and IT standards.
Use of PAC’s will continue to shift the emphasis toward open communication standards and software integration, with less focus on the hardware. Users will become more focused
on the total system performance rather than the hardware selection. So PAC’s will win more satisfactions from customers who are not satisfied by traditional PLC’s especially when
they need more than simple discrete I/O control function.
What Are Programmable Automation
Controllers (PAC's)?
The programmable logic controller (PLC), was introduced in the 1960’s, and has been
proven as a reliable and rugged automation controller for harsh industrial environments.
Surveys by the ARC and VDC show that more than 70% of PLC applications require less
than 128 points of digital I/O. About 80% of applications can be finished by 20 ladder-logic
instructions. These average requirements have resulted in the recent growth of low-cost,
tiny PLC’s with digital I/O that uses ladder logic.
Although 80% of applications can be satisfied by low-cost simple controllers, the other
20% are more complex, and traditional PLC’s cannot fully satisfy them. These higher
level applications usually require complex control capabilities, high speed analog
measurements, multiple programs support with different cycle times, open communication
functions and enterprise-level network integration.
Different domain applications, such as discrete control, process control and motion control,
have traditionally adopted proprietary controllers, which require developers to spend a lot
of effort on software development and maintenance. These requirements would be best
suited with a controller that supports single development tools and has multiple domain
functionality. The new controller architecture integrates multiple domain functionality
on single controller which saves on system design costs, project implementation,
maintenance, training efforts and spare part stock.
In order to satisfy the market demands for complex control, the concept of the
Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) is emerging in the market. PAC’s define the
new generation of industrial controllers which feature the PC’s openness, high performance
CPU, rich memory and powerful software functionality as well as the PLC’s reliability and
robustness. The terminology Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) is defined by
ARC Advisory Group.
The Definition of a PAC is as Follows:
Multi-domain functionality, including logic, motion, drives and process on a single
platform
Single multi-discipline development platform incorporating common tagging and a
single database
Software tools that allow design by process flow across several machines or
process units
Open, modular architectures that mirror industry applications from machine layouts
in factories to unit operations in process plants
Employs de-facto standards for network interfaces and languages, etc., allowing
data exchange as part of networked multi-vendor systems
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