What are the emerging trends and technologies in PLC programming?

1 Open Standards

One of the major trends in PLC programming is the adoption of open standards that enable interoperability, portability, and compatibility among different PLC brands, platforms, and languages. Open standards such as IEC 61131-3, OPC UA, and MQTT provide common frameworks and protocols for PLC programming and communication, reducing the need for proprietary solutions and custom integrations. Open standards also facilitate the exchange of data and information between PLCs and other systems, such as cloud services, edge devices, and industrial internet of things (IIoT) applications.

2 Object-Oriented Programming

Another trend in PLC programming is the use of object-oriented programming (OOP) principles and techniques to create more modular, reusable, and maintainable code. OOP is a programming paradigm that organizes data and logic into discrete units called objects, which have attributes and methods that define their properties and behaviors. OOP allows PLC programmers to create classes and instances of objects, inherit and override features from parent classes, and encapsulate data and logic within objects. OOP also enables polymorphism, which is the ability of objects to perform different actions depending on their type or context.

3 Functional Programming

A third trend in PLC programming is the introduction of functional programming concepts and features to improve the reliability, readability, and testability of code. Functional programming is a programming paradigm that emphasizes the use of pure functions, which are functions that always return the same output for the same input and do not modify any external state or data. Functional programming also avoids the use of mutable variables, loops, and side effects, and instead relies on immutable data structures, recursion, and higher-order functions. Functional programming can help PLC programmers avoid common errors and bugs, such as race conditions, deadlocks, and memory leaks.

4 Visual Programming

A fourth trend in PLC programming is the development of visual programming tools and environments that allow PLC programmers to create and edit code using graphical elements, such as blocks, icons, and diagrams. Visual programming can simplify and speed up the PLC programming process, especially for beginners and non-experts who may not be familiar with textual languages and syntax. Visual programming can also provide a more intuitive and interactive way of designing and debugging PLC programs, as well as documenting and communicating the logic and flow of the code.

5 Model-Based Programming

A fifth trend in PLC programming is the adoption of model-based programming approaches that enable PLC programmers to generate code from abstract models of the system or process. Model-based programming involves creating and validating a high-level representation of the system or process using mathematical equations, graphical symbols, or domain-specific languages. Then, the model is converted into executable code for the target PLC platform using automated tools or compilers. Model-based programming can reduce the complexity and effort of PLC programming, as well as enhance the quality and performance of the code.

6 Cloud Programming

A sixth trend in PLC programming is the emergence of cloud programming solutions that offer PLC programmers access to online platforms and services for developing, deploying, and managing PLC programs. Cloud programming can provide PLC programmers with several benefits, such as scalability, flexibility, security, and collaboration. Cloud programming can also enable PLC programmers to leverage the cloud computing capabilities, such as data storage, processing, analytics, and artificial intelligence, to enhance the functionality and intelligence of PLC programs. Cloud programming can also facilitate the integration of PLC programs with other cloud-based systems and applications, such as web services, mobile devices, and IIoT devices.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?