More webcast answers on how to revolutionize industrial automation software

Industrial automation software insights

• Automation interoperability is the topic of Dec. 14 Control Engineering webcast, “How to revolutionize industrial automation software: The power of Universal Automation,” and the webcast presenter answered more audience questions afterward.
• Additional answers explore automation networking standards, cybersecurity, digital twin and I/O related to automation software based on IEC 61499.

More answers about automation interoperability, the topic of the Dec. 14 Control Engineering webcast, “How to revolutionize industrial automation software: The power of Universal Automation,” were provided after the webcast. Alex Degout, EcoStruxure Automation Expert, Schneider Electric, presented on the topic and answered additional audience questions after the webcast, below. (See the webcast via the link above.)

Alex Degout, EcoStruxure Automation Expert, Schneider Electric, presented in the Dec. 14 Control Engineering webcast, “How to revolutionize industrial automation software: The power of Universal Automation.” He also answered additional audience questions after the webcast. Courtesy: Control Engineering, Schneider Electric

Vendor agnostic automation software licensing

Question: What is the licensing model of EcoStruxure Automation Expert (EAE) software?

Degout: There are different licenses for EAE. “Design and Build,” for the IDE, has specific licenses to enable some features. “Operate & Maintain” licenses are based on the equipment and devices, the number of licenses depends on the number of controlled devices.

Comparison of automation standards, networking

Q: What are differences between IEC 61499 standard for portability and interoperability from the Universal Automation organization and OPC Unified Architecture or OPC Foundation Field Level Communications (FLC)?

Degout: OPC UA is a comprehensive standard for general industrial data and information exchange, while OPC FLC is tailored to the specific demands of the industrial field level, enabling seamless integration of devices and sensors.

Q: Can you use both serial and non-serial communications?  What protocols are used for non-serial communication?

Degout: The supported protocols for EAE depend on the hardware and software used. In the Schneider Electric catalog, we natively support Modbus Serial, Modbus TCP, Ethernet IP, OPC UA, Profinet, WebSockets, MQTT and HTPP. Any other protocol could be supported with a software-based gateway.

Q: What communication protocols does UAO support for non-UAO devices and platforms?

Degout: UAO does not develop any communication protocol but only the runtime where any vendor can implement its own communication protocol. Also see communications information, above.

Cybersecurity, use in regulated environments

Q: How do you manage through operating system (OS) security/patches?

Degout: For programmable logic controller (PLC) hardware, the firmware update process does not change from traditional offers. For software-based controllers (on servers, industrial PCs, etc.), the OS security management will depend on the OS and follow usual IT upgrades based on the end-user IT security policy

Q: Can the solutions and products offered by UAO be used in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated environments?

Degout: The IEC61499 standard does not interfere with the FDA regulation. Each UAO vendor needs to certify its own products

Software use with digital twin, input/output scalability

Q: Can EcoStruxure Automation Expert be used for Digital Twin?

Degout: Connectivity between EAE and any digital twin is simplified by the object-oriented way of programming. Each application object can be very easily connected to its digital twin thanks to an embedded communication path, part of the object itself. It allows you to switch from the DT to the real-world in very few manipulations. EAE can be used as a Digital Twin as well, as long as all the simulation logic is well coded.

Q: What is the I/O scalability limit?        

Degout: There is in theory no limit in terms of IOs, as it will depend on the capacity of the controller itself (NIC capacity, CPU) and the architecture (a unique application can be distributed on multiple controllers). The only limit would be the IDE which would not be able to load the complete communication configuration, but this limit has never been reached yet.

Q: Can IEC 61499 compatible devices and systems be interfaced with other products, or do we need to replace existing products with IEC 61499 products?        

Degout: IEC 61499 is only the standard for the development (like IEC 61131), and does not bring any limitation for interfacing with any other product. Each vendor can implement communication protocols that allow interface one IEC61499 device with any other device. If by “IEC 61499,” you’re referring to the UAO Runtime, then this runtime needs to be implemented by each vendor on its own platforms. For example, Schneider Electric deploys the UAO Runtime on the M251d, M262d, M580d, ATVd and the SoftdPac controllers.

More information about EAE

Q: How can I try EAE and evaluate it?

Degout: Please reach out to the closest Schneider Electric vendor that will redirect you to the right team to support you.

Alex Degout is EcoStruxure Automation Expert, Schneider Electric. Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager, Control Engineering, CFE Media and Technology, mhoske@cfemedia.com.

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