The most-read Control Engineering stories from March and April blended hands-on performance improvement with long-horizon transformation, covering new open process automation projects, SCADA features and coding pitfalls, lifecycle standards and clearer ways to assess cyber impact.
March and April’s most-read stories on Control Engineering point to an industry balancing immediate performance gains with modernization that can scale. Readers looked for practical guidance, especially around PID tuning decisions and tuning calculations, while also tracking what’s changing in the broader automation stack. This included open process automation projects, software-defined automation progress and new SCADA capabilities that promise better reporting, communications and lifecycle manageability.
Broader business and technology signals also stood out: edge computing as an enabler of enterprise digital transformation in challenging environments, a steady cadence of automation M&A tied to AI/robotics/sensing, manufacturing growth expectations for 2026 amid uncertainty and OT cybersecurity conversations focused on distinguishing hype from truly consequential incidents. Together, these top 10 articles reflect engineers prioritizing interoperability, reliability, measurable value and clearer ways to evaluate impact.
1. New projects for open process automation, software-defined automation
ARC Leadership Forum, 2026: More Open Process Automation projects are underway. Compliant software-defined automation, open ecosystems and interoperability tests help flexibility, reusability, reliability, capabilities and ease of use at a lower cost than traditional distributed control systems.
2. New SCADA functions, 50 new features
New features for supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software include a space-saving historian, easier license activations, more power reporting functions and smarter communication capabilities, explained at ScadaFest 2026, hosted by Trihedral, a Delta Group Co.
3. Latest automation mergers, February 2026: AI, robotics, sensing
The Bundy Group reported 19 automation transactions in its February 2026 summary reports. Analysis on the acquisitions and reports are highlighted below including transactions involving Anova, Bedrock Robotics, Calvary Robotics, Siemens and Trener Robotics, and others.
4. PID spotlight, part 27: Calculating PID tuning constants
Here are tuning calculations for fast, moderate and slow tuning of PID controllers for all lag/deadtime ratios.
5. PID spotlight, part 26: How fast should I tune my PID controller?
Do you need to stamp out disturbances as fast as possible? Or does rapid controller output movement cause problems with the rest of the process? Why should I tune a controller fast or slow?
6. How edge computing empowered one company’s digital transformation journey
Seadrill Ltd., an offshore drilling contractor, operates one of the most advanced fleets of drill ships and semi-submersibles in the world. Technologies like edge computing help the company maintain its assets deployed in some of the most challenging offshore environments.
7. Programming, coding tips for SCADA software; how to avoid failures
Many defects in software programming result from unneeded complexities, as explained at the 2025 ScadaFest by Trihedral, a Delta Group Co. See cost of failures. The 2026 ScadaFest is planned for March 23 to 27.
8. New SCADA lifecycle standard supports system modernization
ISA says ANSI/ISA-112.00.01-2025 is available for purchase and included with member access.
9. Manufacturing eyes growth in 2026 amid uncertainty
Interact Analysis forecasts 2.9% manufacturing growth in 2026, with Asia expected to post the fastest regional gains.
10. S4x26: Can an incident “impact score” help cut through the OT cyber hype?
A panel at S4x26 explored whether a rapid 0–10 impact score could bring clarity to industrial cybersecurity events, helping distinguish minor disruptions from truly consequential attacks.
Check out the top articles from March here.
