Latest Communication & Security Technical Articles

Ladder logic is an industrial control systems legend stemming from electrical line diagrams before the days of PLCs.…

Ladder logic is an industrial control systems legend stemming from electrical line diagrams before the days of PLCs. Although logical, they are difficult to interpret.

In any process industry, transducers are the basic instrumentation unit for continuous monitoring of system variables…

In any process industry, transducers are the basic instrumentation unit for continuous monitoring of system variables that provide inputs for control system algorithms and outputs.

Ladder logic is an industrial control systems legend stemming from electrical line diagrams before the days of PLCs.…

Ladder logic is an industrial control systems legend stemming from electrical line diagrams before the days of PLCs. Although logical, they are difficult to interpret.

Learn all about the central processing unit (CPU): the built-in module inside the PLC responsible for executing the…

Learn all about the central processing unit (CPU): the built-in module inside the PLC responsible for executing the program and communicating with external devices.

With a C++ extension, monitoring of status and warning messages can easily be displayed with OpenPLC. Arduino PLC…

With a C++ extension, monitoring of status and warning messages can easily be displayed with OpenPLC. Arduino PLC variables can then be observed using a serial terminal or monitor.

We’ll start exploring loops with the ‘while’ loop in this tutorial. Loops are critical in all programming…

We’ll start exploring loops with the ‘while’ loop in this tutorial. Loops are critical in all programming languages, especially in the control world, where loops form the basis of PLC functionality.

Learn about serial and parallel data communication modes, errors, and flow controls used in connecting legacy and even…

Learn about serial and parallel data communication modes, errors, and flow controls used in connecting legacy and even some modern point-to-point network devices.

Logic is critical for industrial control, and it usually looks like ladders, function blocks, or structured text. I/O…

Logic is critical for industrial control, and it usually looks like ladders, function blocks, or structured text. I/O controllers are designed to automate simple logic tasks and data functions.

As commercial and industrial software migrates to ‘cloud-based’ and ‘subscription’ models, what does it mean? How…

As commercial and industrial software migrates to ‘cloud-based’ and ‘subscription’ models, what does it mean? How does it affect the usability and security of critical parts of control infrastructure?

Nidec’s Control Techniques has launched the SI-BACnet IP add-on module for new and existing HVAC drives to help…

Nidec’s Control Techniques has launched the SI-BACnet IP add-on module for new and existing HVAC drives to help communicate between devices and create a connected automated building.

Every method of connecting to an industrial device—USB, serial, or Ethernet—poses challenges. For Ethernet, we often…

Every method of connecting to an industrial device—USB, serial, or Ethernet—poses challenges. For Ethernet, we often must adjust the IP address of our PC, not only the device itself.

As we approach the conclusion of Python data structures, we’ll examine the tuple. Used less frequently than lists and…

As we approach the conclusion of Python data structures, we’ll examine the tuple. Used less frequently than lists and dictionaries, tuples do serve some handy use cases where immutability is a critical requirement.

Both lists and dictionaries can retain structured data in Python. The dictionary is unique in that it stores individual…

Both lists and dictionaries can retain structured data in Python. The dictionary is unique in that it stores individual entries with human-readable logical names rather than index numbers.

Sensor networks with built-in logic functions can save cost and program execution speed, but what are those various logic…

Sensor networks with built-in logic functions can save cost and program execution speed, but what are those various logic functions, and when might they be preferred over normal PLC ladder logic?

This article will focus on the basic building blocks of the Python programming language that are core to interacting with…

This article will focus on the basic building blocks of the Python programming language that are core to interacting with programs, including strings, integers, floats, and booleans.

High-level IT/OT integration in a manufacturing environment involves skills in networking communication and field…

High-level IT/OT integration in a manufacturing environment involves skills in networking communication and field equipment. This example involves automating remote connections between computers.

Learn how to set up Ethernet/IP communications, including steps for both the FANUC controller and the Studio 5000…

Learn how to set up Ethernet/IP communications, including steps for both the FANUC controller and the Studio 5000 environment for a Rockwell PLC.

There are multiple methods for mapping inputs and outputs to an industrial robot. In this article, we cover two of the…

There are multiple methods for mapping inputs and outputs to an industrial robot. In this article, we cover two of the most popular methods: letting the robot or the PLC control the I/O signals.

Parameters control the operation and command sources for VFDs. The PowerFlex series from Rockwell Automation is no…

Parameters control the operation and command sources for VFDs. The PowerFlex series from Rockwell Automation is no exception. Learn how to adjust the parameters for networking and IP configuration.