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Automation has developed a cloud-based IoT ap- plication which can access many operational sites, such as pump houses, using MQTT. Before PLCs were available to support MQTT and other meth- ods, it was necessary for developers to add in dedicated communication gateways (Figure 4)
PLCs as the Future of OT Data Connectivity
Figure 4: Modern PLCs include the necessary protocols and security users need in support of accessing industrially-sourced data and integrating it with higher level computing systems.
Whereas yesterday’s industrial automation products were often very specialized and some- what limited in terms of data handling, the pro- cessing power incorporated in today’s OT digi- tal devices imbues them with greater capabilities. These new capabilities are addressing end user needs for obtaining timely field data to support IoT and analytical initiatives at the enterprise level.
OT-based PLC technology is already well-prov- en in the field. The addition of IT-friendly protocols and security features to PLCs makes them ideal as edge devices for accessing raw field data using in- dustrial protocols, processing it into information, and securely publishing or transmitting it to any in- dustrial IoT client or external computing platform.
About the Author
Damon Purvis is the PLC Product Manager at Au- tomationDirect.com. He has over 22 years of in- dustrial automation ex- perience. Previous roles have included designing and deploying automat- ed solutions in a variety of industries, and managing product development of manufacturing data
Cover Story www.automationnotebook.com | Issue 46
management and business intelligence applications.