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Now, as some users look for ways to combine their open source experiences into their industri- al projects, new industrialized products incorporat- ing open source are leading to even more options.
Open Source Processing
Open source projects are relevant for industri- al applications in many ways. For example, the com- mon Linux open source operating system has played an increasing role in the past few years as it is em- bedded within IIoT implementations and as a plat- form for running control and visualization software.
Open source programmers make code snip- pets and entire programs available to all users, gen- erally at no cost. Many would consider this open nature to introduce an increased risk to those im- plementing open source code, but greater open- ness makes code available for anyone to inspect, and the large community of developers can pro- vide a quick response when issues are identified.
Figure 1: Arduinos and similar microcontrollers are a staple of the maker community, enabling many types of hobby-focused computing and automa- tion projects.
From an open hardware standpoint, the two leading microcontrollers are Raspberry Pi and Ardui- no. The former is more like a miniaturized single-board PC, while the latter is more bare-bones. A basic con- sumer-grade Arduino controller can be purchased for around $20. Inexpensive stackable accessory boards called shields add Ethernet, Wi-Fi, GPS, and other ex- tended functionality, making Arduino systems espe- cially suited for prototyping and hobbies (Figure 1).
Microcontrollers like the Arduino were created
for students learning to program in C++, and as such are designed to be usable by those with any level of pro- gramming experience. An effectively free and exten- sive software library, many low-cost hardware options, and an end user design focus have made this open source concept a favorite of the maker community.
Microcontrollers are so popular that the industri- al automation industry has taken notice, because many of the features desired by hobbyists are also needed for industrial projects. Some end users have even in- corporated consumer-grade microcontrollers into in- dustrial applications, but there is some risk involved.
Reducing Open Source Risk
As interesting as microcontrollers are, there are many issues preventing them from being suit- able for industrial applications. A few challenges are:
• Unprotected bare circuit board consumer-grade design to remain economical
• Not designed to meet temperature, vibration, and electrical noise conditions present in industrial applications
• Not extensively field tested in typical industrial environments
• Lack of I/O using typical industrial signals
• No agency approvals or industrial certifications
Figure 2: New products, such as AutomationDirect’s ProductivityOpen, offer end users a way to combine open source microcontroller functionality within an industrial-grade form factor using proven I/O designs.
Despite these risks, some end users are look- ing for ways to take advantage of open source ben- efits, but in a manner robust enough for any kind of commercial or industrial application. A few in- dustrial vendors have worked to combine open source elements with industrial form factors so end
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