Putting the kernel in charge of PLC control
15 Jan 2000
According to Hayes Control Systems, with TwinCAT software it is possible to run PLC tasks on a standard PC without needing a co-processor to handle the PLC tasks separately. The software operates under Windows NT using a real-time kernel extension that then communicates to the remote I/O. This implementation is said to work without a second operating system by integrating real-time tasks within NT. No additional hardware is needed other than a standard PC. This type of control software, which will be demonstrated at FieldComms 99, can be used with an open fieldbus-neutral bus terminal system consisting of electronic terminal blocks.
