Evolutionary patterns for industrial controllers
Studying advances in the field of automation control over the past few decades provides a clear picture of how iterations of specific technologies are driving new I/O and control functions.
For example, when developing the first I/O system, field control and sensing equipment also relied on electromagnetic and pneumatic components that were limited by physical properties and whose service life was affected. Compact, low-voltage components such as solid-state relays push users with more choices to integrate I/O directly into their systems. This led to the emergence of the first modular I/O, while electronics companies brought high-tech computing into the mainstream. Sensitive electronic devices in these systems require external I/O to interact with the real world. This is the first serially addressable I/O rack, which is an alternative to rack-based I/O in PLCs.
From dedicated, stand-alone I/O devices to modular I/O to bus I/O, the concept of reuse in industrial control is reflected. The next-generation control platform incorporates embedded I/O processing circuitry. Modules have expanded from 1 I/O channel to 32 channels and now incorporate I/O into PLCs and other monolithic devices. In some cases, each I/O channel can accept a variety of different signal types with proper configuration.
This model shows how innovation spreads across the industry: over time, individual innovations become modular, collaborate with other technologies, and then embed into those technologies as part of a new innovation cycle.