Content deleted Content added
→Safety PLCs: Grammar and phrasing |
|||
(40 intermediate revisions by 21 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{Short description|Programmable digital computer used to control machinery}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2023}}
[[File:Automate industriel WAGO pour un système de monitoring en industrie pharmaceutique.jpg|thumb|PLCs for a monitoring system in the pharmaceutical industry]]
{{Manufacturing}}
Line 6 ⟶ 7:
A '''programmable logic controller''' ('''PLC''') or '''programmable controller''' is an industrial [[computer]] that has been [[ruggedized]] and adapted for the control of manufacturing processes, such as [[assembly line]]s, machines, [[robotic]] devices, or any activity that requires high reliability, ease of programming, and process fault diagnosis.
PLCs can range from small modular devices with tens of [[Input/output|inputs and outputs]] (I/O)
PLCs were first developed in the automobile manufacturing industry to provide flexible, rugged and easily programmable controllers to replace hard-wired [[relay logic]] systems. [[Dick Morley]], who invented the first PLC, the Modicon 084, for [[General Motors]] in 1968, is considered the father of PLC.
Line 22 ⟶ 23:
In 1968, GM Hydramatic,<!--Don't link hydramatic transmission--> the [[automatic transmission]] division of [[General Motors]], issued a [[request for proposal]]s for an electronic replacement for hard-wired relay systems based on a white paper written by engineer Edward R. Clark. The winning proposal came from Bedford Associates from [[Bedford, Massachusetts]]. The result, built in 1969, was the first PLC and designated the ''084'', because it was Bedford Associates' eighty-fourth project.<ref name=":9">{{Harvnb|Laughton|Warne|2002|loc=chpt. 16}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://www.automationmag.com/855-the-father-of-invention-dick-morley-looks-back-on-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-plc/ |title=The Father of Invention: Dick Morley Looks Back on the 40th Anniversary of the PLC |last=Dunn |first=Alison |date=2009-06-12 |website=Manufacturing Automation |access-date=2020-02-23 }}</ref>
Bedford Associates started a company, '''Modicon, Inc.''',<ref name="b677">{{cite book | last=Group | first=Career Communications | title=US Black Engineer & IT | publisher=Career Communications Group | date=1993 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pESCcEtfrusC&dq=modicon%2520inc&pg=PA42 | access-date=2025-06-09 | page=}}</ref> dedicated to developing, manufacturing, selling, and servicing this new product, which they named '''{{visible anchor|Modicon}}''' (standing for "modular digital controller"). One of the people who worked on that project was [[Dick Morley]], who is considered to be the father of the PLC.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.isa.org/standards-and-publications/isa-publications/intech-magazine/2003/august/cover-story-50th-anniversary-leaders-of-the-pack/|title=Leaders of the pack|last=Strothman|first=Jim|date=2003-08-01|website=ISA|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808184918/https://www.isa.org/standards-and-publications/isa-publications/intech-magazine/2003/august/cover-story-50th-anniversary-leaders-of-the-pack/|archive-date=2017-08-08|access-date=2020-02-24}}</ref> The Modicon brand was sold in 1977 to [[Gould Electronics]] and later to [[Schneider Electric]], its current owner.<ref name=":0" /> About this same time, Modicon created [[Modbus]], a data communications protocol to be used with its PLCs. Modbus has since become a standard open protocol commonly used to connect many industrial electrical devices.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mobus Networking Guide: Introduction |url=https://development.libelium.com/modbus_networking_guide/introduction |website=Libelium.com |access-date=27 October 2022 }}</ref>
One of the first Modicon 084 models built is now on display at Schneider Electric's facility in [[North Andover, Massachusetts]]. It was presented to Modicon by [[General Motors|GM]], when the unit was retired after nearly twenty years of uninterrupted service. Modicon used the 84 moniker at the end of its product range like Modicon Micro 84 and Modicon TSX CSY 84 until after the 984 made its appearance.<ref>{{cite book |last=Chakraborty |first=Kunal |title=Industrial Applications of Programmable Logic Controllers and SCADA |date=2016 |publisher=Anchor Academic Publishing |___location=Hamburg |isbn=978-3960670247 }}</ref>
===Allen-Bradley===
Line 30 ⟶ 31:
===Early methods of programming===
Many early PLC programming applications were not capable of graphical representation of the logic, and so it was instead represented as a series of logic expressions in some kind of Boolean format, similar to [[Boolean algebra]]. As programming terminals evolved, because ladder logic was a familiar format used for electro-mechanical control panels, it became more commonly used. Newer formats, such as
Up to the mid-1990s, PLCs were programmed using proprietary programming panels or special-purpose programming [[Computer terminal|terminals]], which often had dedicated function keys representing the various logical elements of PLC programs.<ref name=":9" /> Some proprietary programming terminals displayed the elements of PLC programs as graphic symbols, but plain [[ASCII art|ASCII]] character representations of contacts, coils, and wires were common. Programs were stored on [[cassette tape cartridge]]s. Facilities for printing and documentation were minimal due to a lack of memory capacity. The oldest PLCs used [[magnetic-core memory]].<ref>{{
==Architecture==
Line 39 ⟶ 40:
* A power supply unit which converts AC voltage to DC,
* A memory unit storing data from inputs and program to be executed by the processor,
* An input and output interface, where the controller receives and sends data from
* A communications interface to receive and transmit data on communication networks from
PLCs require a programming device which is used to develop and later download the created program into the memory of the controller.<ref name=":4" />
Modern PLCs generally contain a [[real-time operating system]], such as [[OS-9]] or [[VxWorks]].<ref name=":5" />
Line 50 ⟶ 51:
[[File:PLC AB InstaladoV1.JPG|alt=Modular PLC with EtherNet/IP module, digital and analog I/O, with some slots being empty.|thumb|Modular PLC with [[EtherNet/IP]] module, discrete and analog I/O, with some slots being empty]]
There are two types of mechanical design for PLC systems. A ''single box''
===Discrete and analog signals===
[[Digital signal|Discrete (digital) signals]] can only take ''on'' or ''off'' value (1 or 0, ''true'' or ''false''). Examples of devices providing a discrete signal include [[limit switch]]es
[[Analog signal]]s can use voltage or current that is
===Redundancy===
Some special processes need to work permanently with minimum unwanted downtime. Therefore, it is necessary to design a system that is [[fault
==Programming==
[[File:Ladder temporizado.svg|thumb|upright=0.9|Example of a ladder diagram logic]]
Programmable logic controllers are intended to be used by engineers without a programming background. For this reason, a graphical programming language called [[
{{As of|2015|post=,}} the majority of PLC systems adhere to the [[IEC 61131-3]] standard that defines 2 textual programming languages: [[
Modern PLCs can be programmed in a variety of ways, from the relay-derived ladder logic to programming languages such as specially adapted dialects of [[BASIC]] and [[C (programming language)|C]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Programmable logic controller for automation systems |url=https://www.isisvarese.edu.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/CLIL-5B-MEC-PLC.pdf |access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=www.isisvarese.edu.it}}</ref>
While the fundamental concepts of PLC programming are common to all manufacturers, differences in [[I/O
===Programming device===
Manufacturers develop programming software for their
PLC programs are typically written in a programming device, which can take the form of a desktop console, special software on a [[personal computer]], or a handheld programming device.<ref name=":7">{{Harvnb|Bolton|2015|pp=19–20}}</ref> Then, the program is downloaded to the PLC directly or over a network. It is stored either in non-volatile [[flash memory]] or battery-backed-up [[RAM]]. In some programmable controllers, the program is transferred from a personal computer to the PLC through a programming board that writes the program into a removable chip, such as [[EPROM]].▼
▲PLC programs are typically written in a programming device, which can take the form of a desktop console, special software on a [[personal computer]], or a handheld
▲Manufacturers develop programming software for their controllers. In addition to being able to program PLCs in multiple languages, they provide common features like hardware diagnostics and maintenance, software debugging, and offline simulation.<ref name=":7" />
===Simulation===
▲Incorrectly programmed PLC can result in lost productivity and dangerous conditions. Testing the project in simulation improves its quality, increases the level of safety associated with equipment and can save costly downtime during the installation and commissioning of automated control applications since many scenarios can be tried and tested before the system is activated.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Lin |first1=Sally |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CHYlTBxqrM8C&pg=PA553 |title=Advances in Computer Science, Environment, Ecoinformatics, and Education, Part III: International Conference, CSEE 2011, Wuhan, China, August 21-22, 2011. Proceedings |last2=Huang |first2=Xiong |date=9 August 2011 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=9783642233449 |pages=15 |via=Google Books }}</ref>
==Functionality==
[[File:Siemens Simatic S7-416-3.jpg|thumb|upright|PLC system in a rack, left-to-right: power supply
[[File:PLC Control Panel.png|thumb|upright|Control panel with PLC (gray elements in the center). The unit consists of separate elements, from left to right:
The main difference
The functionality of the PLC has evolved over the years to include sequential relay control, motion control, [[process control]], [[distributed control system]]s, and [[computer network|networking]]. The data handling, storage, processing power, and communication capabilities of some modern PLCs are approximately equivalent to [[desktop computer]]s. PLC-like programming combined with remote I/O hardware
===Basic functions===
The most basic function of a programmable logic controller is to emulate the functions of electromechanical relays.
More advanced instructions of the PLC may be implemented as functional blocks, which carry out some operation, such as manipulating internal variable, when enabled by a logical input and which produce outputs to signal, for example, completion or errors
▲More advanced instructions of the PLC may be implemented as functional blocks, which carry out some operation when enabled by a logical input and which produce outputs to signal, for example, completion or errors, while manipulating variables internally that may not correspond to discrete logic.
=== Communication ===
PLCs use built-in ports, such as [[USB]], [[Ethernet]], [[RS-232]], [[RS-485]], or [[RS-422]] to communicate with external devices (sensors, actuators) and systems ([[programming software]], [[SCADA]], [[
PLCs used in larger I/O systems may have [[peer-to-peer]] (P2P) communication between processors. This allows separate parts of a complex process to have individual control while allowing the subsystems to co-ordinate over the communication link. These communication links are also often used for
Formerly, some manufacturers offered dedicated communication modules as an add-on function where the processor had no network connection built-in.
Line 145 ⟶ 141:
=== PLC chip / embedded controller ===
=== Microcontrollers ===
Line 158 ⟶ 154:
{{Original research section|date=March 2020}}
In more recent years,{{When|date=February 2020}} small products called programmable logic relays (PLRs) or smart relays, have become more common and accepted. These are similar to PLCs and are used in light industries where only a few points of I/O are needed, and low cost is desired. These small devices are typically made in a common physical size and shape by several manufacturers and branded by the makers of larger PLCs to fill their low-end product range. Most of these have 8 to 12 discrete inputs, 4 to 8 discrete outputs, and up to 2 analog inputs. Most such devices include a tiny [[postage
A variant of PLCs, used in remote locations is the [[remote terminal unit]] or RTU. An RTU is typically a low power, ruggedized PLC whose key function is to manage the communications links between the site and the central control system (typically [[SCADA]]) or in some modern systems, "The Cloud". Unlike factory automation using
==See also==
Line 166 ⟶ 162:
* [[Industrial control system]]
* [[PLC technician]]
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
==References==
Line 190 ⟶ 189:
[[Category:Industrial automation]]
[[Category:Industrial computing]]
|