The global site of the UK's leading magazine for automation, motion engineering and power transmission
28 March, 2024

LinkedIn
Twitter
Twitter link

Failsafe PC-based controller is 'first' with independent OS

09 February, 2018

Siemens claims to have developed the world’s first software controller to offer failsafe PC-based control which functions independently of the operating system. The Simatic ET 200SP Open Controller CPU 1515SP PC 2 combines the functions of a PC-based software controller with visualisation, Windows applications and central I/Os in a single compact device. It is aimed at standard and failsafe applications up to Performance Level e

The distributed automation controller is an extension of Siemens’ Simatic automation controllers for PC-based applications, and is the first Simatic S7-1500 software controller with built-in safety functions. The fact that it offers failsafe PC-based control that functions independently of the operating system is said to guarantee high system availability and to facilitate rapid start-ups.

It is possible to install Windows updates and reboot the PC while the controller is running. This eliminates the need for a hardware controller that would otherwise also be needed, thus saving space and money and reducing engineering costs.

The combination of PC-based control and high-level language programs makes the software controller particularly suitable for series production of special-purpose machines.

The 1507S F CPU for Siemens' Simatic S7-1500 software controllers is claimed to be the only software controller with fail-safe PC-based control which functions independently of the operating system.

Another new development – a failsafe CPU1516pro-2 PN for the Simatic ET 200pro distributed controller – also performs standard and failsafe automation tasks up to Performance Level e in a single device.

The scalable Simatic range of controllers now comprises Basic, Advanced, Distributed and Software controllers, all offering similar functions. The S7-1200 Basic controllers are aimed at compact automation applications, while the S7-1500 Advanced controllers are aimed at complex tasks. The ET 200SP distributed controllers are suitable for distributed applications, and the software controllers for PC-based applications.




Magazine
  • To view a digital copy of the latest issue of Drives & Controls, click here.

    To visit the digital library of past issues, click here

    To subscribe to the magazine, click here

     

Poll

"Do you think that robots create or destroy jobs?"

Newsletter
Newsletter

Events

Most Read Articles