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Summary: PLCs are basic computers used to remotely actuate output based on how outputs are activated. They are used in almost all factories due to their easy use and highly effective in control of machines.

Reflection: This article has lots of great information about uses of PLCs in industry. It also has some information about the programing and use of PLCs. Lastly it has some specific applications too some industries.

Citation: Automation, Mobile. “Uses of PLCs in Industries.” Mobile Automation, 20 Aug. 2024, www.mobileautomation.com.au/plc-industrial-application.

Accessed 29 Mar. 2025

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A Programmable Logic Controller (PLCs) is a computer that enables people to control steps to a process. Know which industries are aided by this technology

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Summary: PLCs are comprised of modules that allow the PLC to grow with a factory by adding more. The HVAC company was able to control over 20 machines at the same time with one PLC which shows their flexibility and usefulness in industry.

Reflection: Frank Bicknell talks about why PLCs were selected for this company. It has lots of great information about how PLCs work and shows that while they are very modern technology, they are still very robust and can be in harsh environments.

Citation: Bicknell, Frank. “Open PLCs Enhance Building Automation.” isa.org, 31 Mar. 2022, www.isa.org/intech-home/2022/april-2022/features/open-plcs-enhance-building-automation.

Accessed 29 Mar. 2025

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Summary: VFDs or drives have been upgraded over the last few years and have been able to take on some tasks of PLCs. Despite their improvement PLCs are still needed to control more complex systems due to the VFDs limitations.

Reflection: This article shows that PLCs and still invaluable to industry and even with simple improvements to VFDs the PLC will not be replaced any time soon. It also helps that PLCs can control VFDs so the improvements to them are an overall improvement to industries.

Citation: Sacks, Tony, and Tony Sacks. “Despite Cleverer Drives, We Still Need PLCs - Drives&Controls.” Drives&Controls - The global site of the UK’s leading magazine for automation, motion engineering and power transmission, 24 Mar. 2025, drivesncontrols.com/despite-cleverer-drives-we-still-need-plcs.

Accessed 29 Mar. 2025

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Drives&Controls - The global site of the UK's leading magazine for automation, motion engineering and power transmission

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Despite cleverer drives, we still need PLCs - Drives&Controls

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Drives can increasingly take on some simple PLC functions, but for more complex automation there’s no substitute for a dedicated PLC, argues Carl Eely, ABB’s product manager for industrial automation. When automating simple motor-driven tasks, such as operating an automatic door, or raising and lowering a car park barrier, the logic required is

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Summary: PAC is an alternative to PLCs. They offer more flexibility when it comes to automation.

Reflection: PAC could eventually be using more than PLCs but for the moment PLCs are more widely used. Mostly due to the robustness of them.

Citation: PAC Includes PLC Simulator. www.controlengeurope.com/article/214437/PAC-includes-PLC-simulator.aspx.

Accessed 29 Mar. 2025

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The integrated development environment software of Emerson’s PAC Machine Edition (PME) 10.6 can be used to configure and manage control system devices, including PACSystems PLCs, and QuickPanel HMIs.

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Summary: PLCs have been on the rise ever since they came out. This specific type G-3 is expected to grow nearly 5%. Also, it is projected that in the next decade this type of PLCs will double in revenue compered to today.

Reflection: Nikhil Kaitwade talks about how some types of PLCs are on a quick rise. And that the new PLCs have better Automation capabilities and are used often in up-to-date factories.

Citation: Kaitwade, Nikhil. G-3 PLC Solution Market Accelerates Growth as Industry 4.0 Drives Demand for Advanced Automation Solutions – FMIBlog. 17 Apr. 2025, www.fmiblog.com/2025/04/17/g-3-plc-solution-market-accelerates-growth-as-industry-4-0-drives-demand-for-advanced-automation-solutions.

Accessed 24 Apr. 2025

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G-3 PLC Solution Market Accelerates Growth as Industry 4.0 Drives Demand for Advanced Automation Solutions – FMIBlog

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The G-3 PLC solution market size is predicted to expand at a 5.9% CAGR during the forecast period. The industry’s revenue stands at USD 531.6 million in 2024 and is projected to surpass USD 940.4 million by 2034.

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Summary: PLCs have many uses from automating giant factory's too running decorations for a holiday.

Reflection: The website shows how flexible PLCs can be and how they can be used for unique or odd scenarios.

Citation: Benchoff, Brian. “OpenPLC, for Industrial Automation to Halloween Displays.” Hackaday, 27 Oct. 2012, hackaday.com/2012/10/27/openplc-for-industrial-automation-to-halloween-displays.

Accessed 24 Apr. 2025

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OpenPLC, For Industrial Automation To Halloween Displays

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Stepping out onto just about any factory floor you’ll find complex automatons building anything and everything imaginable. These machines need to be controlled somehow and before the age of c…

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Summary: PLCs can be expensive of cheaper. Which allows a wider variety of people to purchase them for a wider variety of uses.

Reflection: The article talks about how PLCs are cost effective and how they could be used for cheap and expensive applications.

Citation: List, Jenny. “An Affordable and Programmable PLC.” Hackaday, 8 Dec. 2022, hackaday.com/2022/12/08/an-affordable-and-programmable-plc.

Accessed 24 Apr. 2025

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We're all used to general purpose microcontroller boards such as the Arduino or its many imitators, but perhaps we don't see as much of their industrial cousins. A programmable logic controller (PLC) is a computer designed to automate industrial machinery, and comes with protected interfaces and usually a specific PLC programming environment. Thus [Galopago]'s work with an inexpensive Chinese PLC clone is especially interesting, providing a route forward to using it within the Arduino IDE ecosystem.

Opening it up, the processor is identified as an STM32F103, and the connection needed to place it in bootloader mode is identified. Then it can be programmed from the Arduino IDE, even though its bootloader can't be changed. Then to complete the process it's necessary to identify the various different inputs and outputs by old-fashioned hardware reverse engineering.

This PLC may not be quite as robust as some products costing much more money, but it still represents a cost-effective way to access a microcontroller board with much of the interface circuitry already installed that would normally be required for controlling machinery. We expect that we'll be seeing it appear on these pages over the coming months, and perhaps there might even be another comparison in the air.

Posted in Tagged Arduino Hacks Arduino IDE, plc, STM32F103

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We're all used to general purpose microcontroller boards such as the Arduino or its many imitators, but perhaps we don't see as much of their industrial cousins. A programmable logic co...

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Summary: A type of PLC called open PLC is used as an open-source controller for applications where a base PLC would not suffice. They talk about how tough PLC are which is what allows them to be used in harsh environments such as factories.

Reflections: This website shows the PLCs, and their many types allow for the buyer to find the PLC that fits their application the best and makes it convenient to find what you need.

Citation: ---. “Open PLCs Enhance Building Automation.” isa.org, 31 Mar. 2022, www.isa.org/intech-home/2022/april-2022/features/open-plcs-enhance-building-automation.

Accessed 24 Apr. 2025