PORTFOLIO

The goal is to simplify industrial automation by offering a skill-based PLC software architecture, reducing cost and complexity through flexible, modular and easy-to-use programming. Process automation is becoming increasingly important for maintaining competitiveness, especially in industries such as manufacturing. However, the significant effort involved, the strong dependence on individual programming expertise, and the limited flexibility make automation unattractive for many companies. To make the
automation of processes more attractive, a software architecture for PLC programming was developed, focusing on flexibility, modularity, and ease of use. The architecture is based on a set of core principles designed to simplify development and ensure long-term scalability. These principles include the standardized integration of actuators and sensors into the software, their seamless implementation into the operational workflow, and
clearly defined interactions between individual software components. This structured approach enables efficient and consistent programming, reduces reliance on specialized knowledge, and increases adaptability in industrial automation environments.
The unique features and advantages of the system can be defined as follows: No programming knowledge is required to define a process, making it accessible to users without technical backgrounds. Furthermore, the
process sequence does not need to be reprogrammed when switching between different products, significantly increasing efficiency and reducing setup times. Even when system components are modified or expanded, the
existing process flow remains unaffected, allowing for seamless scalability and quick adaptation to changing production requirements.

Pre-Funding
The architecture was developed as part of a master’s thesis and successfully tested in a laboratory setup. As a result, the project gained the interest of an industry partner. The next steps will focus on advancing the architecture to make it suitable for industrial deployment.

Validate-Phase (Outlook)
The goal of this phase is to validate the architecture using an industrial use case defined by our industry partner. This involves identifying the relevant requirements and further developing the architecture based on those specifications. In addition, further feedback from the industry will be gathered to identify potentially interested companies and to gain deeper insights into market needs.