Headquarters United States
Beckhoff Automation LLC
+1 952-890-0000
beckhoff.usa@beckhoff.com
www.beckhoff.com/en-us/
Alsik Hotel & Spa, Sønderborg, Denmark
Dongfeng Design Institute, China
Anyone whose mind is on sustainability, CO2 savings, and the social responsibility we have to achieve global climate goals has a crucial question to ask themselves: What solutions are available to significantly reduce a large share of global energy consumption – that is to say, energy consumption in buildings? This question is not only an ecological one, it is increasingly also an economic one. Investors and operators have overlapping interests, in that only buildings that have been optimized in terms of energy efficiency and that feature appropriate energy monitoring and energy metering solutions are buildings that are fit for the future.
With building automation across all technical systems – such as we are offering with PC-based control – sustainable, energy-efficient construction and living can be implemented in the sense of a green building. All technical systems are integrated on a single platform. All participants in the building value chain benefit from this: Architects enjoy maximum creative freedom with optimal functional efficiency; specialist planners are provided with increased planning reliability with reduced complexity; system integrators benefit from simplified engineering and increased process reliability; operators minimize their operating costs and maintenance work; investors are provided with the greatest possible investment protection.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
With the TwinCAT 3 Building Automation software library, a comprehensive package of function blocks is available for building automation that covers the entire range of functions of the HVAC control. This significantly simplifies the work of the system integrator in the implementation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology. Functions such as summer night cooling, summer compensation, backup operation and time schedulers are also available. With the help of the HVAC modules, further energy-saving possibilities can be exploited by the occupancy-dependent control of technical systems.
Room automation
Illumination, solar protection, window control, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning are linked with one another on a central platform in room automation for the intelligent control of all technical systems. This reduces the number of individual physical data points and thus the susceptibility to errors. In addition, the provision of all data in one system is the basic prerequisite for successful energy monitoring. The thermal automation solar protection functions and the lighting solution for daylight-dependent illumination control contribute significantly to energy savings. Classic room control units can also be easily integrated via KNX/EIB, Modbus, and EnOcean.
Media technology
Through support for the common protocols and interfaces of media and building technology, our automation platform is able to address all industry-typical devices and systems. Moreover, the integration of AV and media technology and building automation opens up new possibilities, e.g. for the simple control and operation of multimedia devices in meeting and conference rooms.
Operating and monitoring
Depending on the building type or function, the customer-specific requirements vary with regard to remote maintenance, energy and consumption data acquisition, compressed air monitoring and scheduling, etc. The TwinCAT HMI software is perfectly suited to the visualization of all building control and monitoring data. The visualization can be done on a local panel PC or a control panel connected to an industrial PC or embedded controller. However, any HTML5-capable browser, e.g. on smartphones or tablets, can also be used for HMI visualization. The TwinCAT IoT functions also enable simple and secure communication with cloud services.
With a comprehensive construction kit of modular and scalable software and hardware components, we offer a made-to-measure control solution for every task in building automation that is precisely tailored in terms of performance, cost and available installation space. The powerful, PC-based automation platform is responsible for control, data processing, connectivity, visualization, remote maintenance, and cloud integration. Due to the open interfaces in software and hardware, it is optimally suited to the central or decentralized control of all technical systems. Control can take place locally or in the cloud.
From the powerful industrial PCs for the management and control level, the embedded PCs for the automation level to the bus terminal controllers for room automation, you benefit from maximally scalable performance. With around 1,000 different I/O terminals, our bus terminal system supports all commonly available sensors and actuators as well as the fieldbus systems typically used in building automation. The fine granularity of the system makes it possible to insert only as many inputs or outputs as the respective project requires. The TwinCAT Database Server can be integrated into project planning to connect the building automation to commonly available databases. In conjunction with the TwinCAT IoT functions, data storage and monitoring can also be implemented in the cloud.
Future-proof buildings must meet diverse guidelines and standards with regard to energy efficiency and sustainability. Automation technology can be used to implement all relevant standards, such as EN 15232. This describes the influence of building automation and building management on energy efficiency and includes a structured list of all building automation functions and their influence on energy efficiency. In addition, EN 15232 provides methodical support for the definition of minimum requirements for building automation. As a general rule, the higher the degree of automation, the higher the energy savings. Energy efficiency class A of DIN EN 15232 is achieved with a PC-based control solution from Beckhoff and the optimized functions in the TwinCAT 3 Building Automation software library. Operators benefit from the ISO 50001-ready status and can be exempted from the energy allocation charge through the recording of all energy consumption.
A high Smart Readiness Indicator can also be implemented with Beckhoff. The standard defined by the EPBD indicates the level of a building's ability to intelligently adapt functions according to demand. For example, a room should only be heated and lit when someone is in it: Sensors detect the presence status and regulate the corresponding building functions automatically. PC-based control makes all the data collected available on a central platform as the basis for intelligent energy management.
Energy data acquisition and management, and the resulting opportunities for optimization, are becoming increasingly important for modern building automation. Cloud systems play a central role in data handling. With building automation from Beckhoff, integrated communication from the I/O level to the cloud can be implemented with TwinCAT IoT functions.
A key benefit of cloud integration is the ability to combine multiple properties into one portfolio. This enables direct comparison of building data and thus performance monitoring as well. Anomalies in energy consumption can be quickly identified and investigated by comparisons with similar buildings. Monitoring and notification of faults can be performed centrally and from any location using devices such as smartphones or tablets. TwinCAT Analytics also enables building data to be analyzed directly in the cloud. The use of databases allows cost-effective storage of data over a long period of time and comparison with rule-based analyses. With predictive maintenance, problems caused by wear or contamination can be detected before failure occurs. Machine learning concepts enable the optimization of operating strategies and control algorithms over the entire operating time and service life.
With the supplements available in TwinCAT (e.g. HTTP/Rest, MQTT or OPC UA), no further devices are required for integration with cloud systems. Communication takes place directly from the TwinCAT control to the cloud. This makes the controllers from Beckhoff perfect for use as edge devices.
PC-based control for building automation in office buildings and educational institutions
PC-based control for building automation in hotels, cruise ships and stages
PC-based control for building automation in commercial and industrial buildings
PC-based control for heating, ventilation and air conditioning
Our PC-based control technology has proven itself worldwide since 1980 in the widest variety of applications, from the machine controller and the automation of wind turbines to building automation and has developed very quickly into a standard in the automation industry. Innovative product developments followed continuously and are regarded today as milestones in automation technology, such as the modular Bus Terminal system or the high-speed fieldbus EtherCAT. The basis for the universal usability of our control solution is its modularity, its scalability in terms of power and its openness toward other systems.
PC-based control enables the integrated automation of all trades: from HVAC to room automation, from remote maintenance and energy data acquisition to operation and monitoring. For this purpose, Beckhoff offers an extensive toolkit of hardware and software components, which can be used both in individual trades and across systems. Robust industrial or embedded PCs with the universal automation software TwinCAT integrate PLC, visualization, safety technology and measurement tasks. The Beckhoff I/O systems log data from all sensors and actuators. EtherCAT, the real-time fieldbus system, provides for the high communication speed. Through support for all common protocols and interfaces of media and building technology, our automation platform is able to address all industry-typical devices and systems. Due to the modularity of the system, only a new I/O signal has to be integrated into the terminal segment in the case of a function extension. For diagnostic functions like intelligent energy monitoring, various TwinCAT software libraries are available.
Your advantage with PC-based control:
In 2003, Beckhoff developed the fast EtherCAT communication system. Launched as an open system, it became a global standard in automation within a few years. With around 100 signal types, we offer an extensive EtherCAT Terminal portfolio that is extremely well suited for automating every functionality in building applications in terms of both its performance and variance. The terminals enable a variety of simple building bus systems such as KNX/EIB, DALI-2, DMX, M-Bus, BACnet MSTP to be integrated into the controller. This ensures compatibility and continuity with the existing system. Existing and future investments are protected.
In contrast to the Bus Terminals, in which the fieldbus signal is converted in the Bus Coupler to the internal, fieldbus-neutral terminal bus, the EtherCAT protocol is completely preserved up to the individual terminal with EtherCAT Terminals. This enables DMX and SMPTE-Timecode to be integrated into the controller.
I/O signals are wired decentralized to fieldbus devices or centrally to the controller. The available vendor-specific fieldbus devices with fixed input/output configurations and design often make it necessary to use an entire group of devices with similar functions. This complex signal acquisition results in high material, installation, design and documentation expenditures as well as high costs for later changes.
The Beckhoff Bus Terminal is an open and fieldbus-neutral I/O system consisting of electronic terminal blocks. The head of an electronic terminal block is the Bus Coupler with the interface to the fieldbus. Bus Couplers are available for all leading fieldbus systems. With the master terminals, fieldbus functionalities are also available in the form of a standard Bus Terminal. This is particularly advantageous for bus systems that are integrated as subsystems into a higher-level system. It means that only one system is required for the subsystem and for the higher-level bus interface. The master terminals are available for the following building bus systems: BACnet MSTP, KNX/EIB, LON, DALI/DALI-2, DMX, MP-bus, M-bus, SMI, EnOcean, Modbus and others.
In order to make the engineering of applications in building automation as efficient and simple as possible, we have developed an extensive construction kit of software tools, libraries and application samples: TwinCAT 3 Building Automation (TF8040). The basic tool is the free programming environment TwinCAT Engineering. It allows free programming according to IEC 61131-3 and provides the system user with maximum flexibility in solving tasks.
The basic functions for controlling all technical systems in building automation – from simple logic blocks and PID controllers to tracking of the blind slats in relation to the sun's position – are included in TwinCAT 3 Building Automation. An extensive portfolio of ready-to-use applications is available. These are tried-and-tested and well-documented program blocks, ranging from applications in heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology to room automation functions and lighting control. They simplify the familiarization with the system and ensure a high level of system functionality. This increases the reusability and maintainability of the programs created. For the integration of the Beckhoff control into a management and control level, communication via BACnet and OPC UA is integrated directly into the templates.
The system operation and parameterization can be carried out directly at the control cabinet via panel or remotely by means of an integrated HTML5 web visualization via TwinCAT HMI. All basic operating and monitoring functions of building automation, such as system graphics, scheduling, alarm and event lists, are supported.
The international BACnet standard, which guarantees interoperability in building automation between devices from different manufacturers, is becoming increasingly important and is constantly being supplemented with new functions. TwinCAT BACnet can be used as a universal Ethernet protocol on all PC-based hardware platforms from Beckhoff, right down to the field level. The DIN rail-mountable Embedded PC series CX8191, CX9020, CX51xx the ultra-compact Industrial PCs of the C60xx series and Panel PCs are certified according to the BACnet standard ISO 16484-5 Protocol, Revision 14, and offer a control platform that is scalable in terms of performance. In accordance with AMEV BACnet 2017, the AS-B application profile (extended BACnet functionality) meets the stringent requirements of public and private building operators for the supported BACnet functionality.
With the integration of the BACnet protocol into the TwinCAT System Manager it is possible to efficiently configure Bus Terminals and BACnet devices with a single tool. BACnet servers and clients can be created in a structured manner from the PLC; BACnet properties can be accessed directly from the PLC. These capabilities also enable the efficient implementation of visualization components. Another function is the dynamic creation of BACnet objects, which can be used to create and configure time schedules and trend objects. Our solution was developed completely in-house, drawing on the profound knowledge of our industry experts.
With the TwinCAT 3 Lighting Solution (TF8050), we have introduced an Excel-configurable lighting solution that focuses on simplifying all work steps from engineering to maintenance. All typical lighting controllers are integrated and the number of DALI lines is unlimited. Beckhoff Bus couplers installed decentrally in the network can be used with extensive lighting systems, which significantly reduces the cabling work. Our lighting solution also supports features such as remote control via web, the import and export of Excel data or simple maintenance. Furthermore, it includes functions for Human Centric Lighting (HCL) as well as the integration of DALI-2 sensors. All these functions are simple to configure, even without programming knowledge. The TwinCAT 3 Lighting Solution is fully web and HTML-capable and can be operated directly via a multi-touch panel. Fast function changes, addressing and extensions or groupings across DALI lines are possible during operation.
Your advantages at a glance:
BACnet (Building Automation Control Network) is a standardized, manufacturer-independent communication protocol for building automation. Areas of application include HVAC, lighting control, safety and fire alarm technology.
The CX8191 is a compact DIN rail-mountable Ethernet controller with an ARM Cortex™-A9, 800 MHz CPU. The BACnet or OPC UA protocols can be operated via the switched Ethernet fieldbus interface. Alternatively, K-bus or E-bus terminals can be series-connected; the CX automatically detects which system is connected during the start-up phase. The controller is programmed with TwinCAT via the Ethernet interface.
In conjunction with the BACnet-MS/TP terminal EL6861, the CX8191 can also act as a router to MS/TP networks. Several MS/TP networks are possible. Moreover, additional protocols and services such as MQTT or Modbus TCP/RTU can be operated. The CX8191 is therefore an almost universal device that can be used very flexibly from control tasks to gateway functions.
The CX9020 Embedded PC is ideal for small to medium-sized projects in the field of building automation. It is equipped with a fanless ARM Cortex™ A8 processor with a clock speed of 1 GHz. With its wide range of communication options, it is ideally suited for use in the HVAC, room automation and media technology systems. The CX9020 can be used in many areas of building automation due to its support for BACnet, OPC UA, MQTT and Modbus TCP/IP as well as the connection of a wide range of subsystems at the Bus Terminal level, such as BACnet MSTP, KNX/EIB, LON, DALI/DALI-2, DMX, MP-Bus, M-Bus, SMI, EnOcean and Modbus.
In combination with the TwinCAT 3 Lighting Solution, the CX9020 can be used to illuminate entire halls. In room automation, the CX9020 with the building automation software TwinCAT 3 Building Automation could possibly be used as a controller for the shading, lighting and air conditioning of some rooms. Connections to the media controller are also possible.
The high-performance CX51xx Embedded PC is – in conjunction with the TwinCAT 3 Building Automation software – the optimal control platform for the automation of buildings with many data points. With the CX51xx series, you obtain a very high-performance BACnet controller, which can easily process more than 2000 BACnet objects. Of course, the CX also provides further connection options, such as OPC UA, MQTT and Modbus TCP at the IP level, as well as a wide range of interfaces for the integration of subsystems such as BACnet MSTP, KNX/EIB, LON, DALI/DALI-2, DMX, MP-Bus, M-Bus, SMI, EnOcean and Modbus at the Bus Terminal level.
A DVI-I interface allows the CX51xx to be connected to a Beckhoff panel for operation and monitoring. The performance class of the CX51xx allows an HMI to run in addition to the PLC. Media technology can also be integrated flexibly with the common protocols via TwinCAT. Thus, you have a controller at hand that covers the entire spectrum in the building, from the control of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to room automation and from energy measurement to the cloud
The CX70xx Embedded PC is ideal for implementing small stand-alone solutions in the building, such as a small ventilation system. The CX7000 is also ideally suited for room automation. With its eight integrated multifunction inputs and four multifunction outputs, it is a very inexpensive compact controller. Of course, the CX7000 can be flexibly extended by all Bus and EtherCAT Terminals, so that subsidiary bus systems such as KNX/EIB, LON, DALI/DALI-2, DMX, MP-Bus, M-Bus, SMI, EnOcean and Modbus can also be connected.
Launched with the C6015, the C60xx series has positioned itself extremely successfully on the market due to its flexible application possibilities. As a sturdy control cabinet IPC with an Intel® Atom™ CPU, the C6015 is suitable for automation, visualization and communication tasks. Its small dimensions and flexible mounting options make the fanless multi-core PC the ideal controller for applications with high performance requirements and minimal mounting space in almost all areas of building automation. The C6015 is certified for BACNet/IP and is a powerful controller for HVAC systems. It is also ideal for use as an edge device and makes the building controller IoT-capable.
The C6017 multi-core computer adds a variant to the series with additional optional interfaces. Due to its high computing power and fanless design, the C6025 is particularly suitable for demanding control applications that also take into account the aspect of green IT. The C6030 offers advantages such as low space requirements, universal usability and flexible mounting, even for complex applications with the highest performance requirements. The C6032 has a further board level for modular interface and function extensions. The use of compact PCIe modules allows it to be perfectly adapted to the respective application and requirement profile in the building automation.
The BC9191 room controller integrates various automation functions in a single module and thus represents a compact and efficient solution in the price-sensitive field of room control. Pre-installed standard functionalities cover all necessary functions for room control, thus simplifying commissioning. In addition to integrated I/O signals and a sub bus connection for room control units, the BC9191 has a K-bus interface and thus enables modular extension using our Bus Terminals.
Changes to room automation functions are possible in the TwinCAT development environment and save complex rewiring, as would be the case with wired controllers. As a freely programmable Ethernet controller the BC9191 can also be used as decentralized intelligence and thus offers the greatest possible flexibility in the construction of system-spanning, energy-efficient room automation.
The EL6861 serial interface enables the connection of BACnet MS/TP devices (master-slave/token passing) via an RS485 interface. Up to 32 MS/TP devices can be connected – and up to 64 if using ultra-low power transceivers. Use the EL6861 only in combination with TwinCAT and a CX9020 as a minimum, since the BACnet MS/TP driver integrated in TwinCAT implements the communication via the MS/TP protocol (BACnet Revision 12). The configuration is also done in TwinCAT.
The following devices are typically connected to the EL6861:
DMX is the standard protocol for controlling professional stage and effect lighting equipment. This is used, for example, for the dynamic lighting of showrooms and salesrooms as well as for exclusive plays of light and color in hotels and event centers. Color mixing and brightness values are transmitted to DMX devices that are static light sources, while moving sources of light also receive spatial coordinates. EtherCAT’s high data transfer rate enables light settings to be updated at a higher rate, with the result that changes of light and color are perceived by the eye as being more harmonious. With the EL6851 DMX master terminal, DMX devices with three axes such as scanners, moving heads or spotlights can be controlled. In addition, the EL6851 can also be used to drive the RDM (Remote Device Management) protocol. TwinCAT offers associated libraries.
The EL6851-0010 DMX slave terminal enables the conntection of DMX consoles (or other DMX master forms). In this way, any DMX console can be integrated as an operating unit for the Beckhoff controller. The EL6851-0010 also allows the input data of the DMX console to be linked to any other signals in the control system by the Beckhoff controller. We also offer the integration of light consoles via sACN, Art-Net™, PosiStageNet or OSC.
The KL6781 M-Bus master terminal integrates electricity, water, gas or energy meters with M-Bus interface in the fieldbus-independent Bus Terminal system, making external M-Bus gateways unnecessary. The KL6781 M-Bus master terminal in a compact 12 mm housing allows the direct connection of up to 40 M-Bus devices, each with a current consumption of 1.5 mA. To connect additional devices, another KL6781 can simply be introduced in the Bus Terminal segment. The TwinCAT PLC M-Bus software library, which is available free of charge, simplifies the integration of M-Bus devices from numerous manufacturers through predefined profiles.
The Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) is a simple bus system for building automation that transmits the signals for the digital operation of lighting devices. The lighting, sensor, button and switching elements are wired in parallel, and are linked through the controller. Other actuators, such as heating control valves or the motors for operating blinds are increasingly being put under digital control.
DALI offers the following advantages:
The KL6821 DALI/DALI-2 Multi-master and Power Supply Terminal allows the connection of up to 64 DALI/DALI-2 slaves and 64 DALI-2 sensors (input devices). The KL6821 is integrated into the Beckhoff Bus Terminal system as a normal Bus Terminal and is therefore fieldbus-independent. The higher-level Bus Coupler transfers the data from the DALI master terminal to the controller. The DALI power supply unit integrated in the KL6821 supplies the DALI bus. No further components are required for the operation of the DALI line.
The KL6581 EnOcean master terminal receives signals from battery-less sensors or sends data to actuators. With a radio signal range of at least 30 m, the wiring of buildings can be simplified significantly. The KL6581 is the link between the KL6583 EnOcean transmitter and receiver modules and the application. Up to eight KL6583 EnOcean transmitters and receivers may be connected to one KL6581 EnOcean master terminal. The EnOcean data are transmitted via the corresponding fieldbus system or the controller.
Beckhoff supports the international LON standard with the KL6401. LON is a local sensor/actuator network in which the devices communicate directly with one another via network variables (SNVTs). It is typically used for cross-subsection networking within building automation, preferably in purpose-built buildings. A LON network consists of up to 32,000 intelligent network nodes. Its modular structure allows for flexible changes and redesigns.
The KNX/EIB Bus Terminal KL6301 connects the KNX/EIB bus system to the Beckhoff Bus Terminal system. The KL6301 offers the possibility to exchange any data with KNX/EIB devices. The ETS software is not required for configuring the KL6301. It is configured and parameterized via TwinCAT function blocks (IEC 61131-3).
Energy efficiency plays an important role in building automation. For the energy management of buildings and plants, it is necessary to record the consumptions of water, electricity and heat at the shortest possible intervals. For the support of cost-optimizing energy management systems, PC-based control offers the possibility to monitor, measure and analyze energy data via a monitoring system that is completely integrated in the standard controller.
Beckhoff terminals for direct current measurement:
Terminals for the indirect measurement of heat, gas, and water:
The EL2564 digital output terminal controls LEDs with integrated series resistor via an adjustable (ground switching) PWM signal. Common anode RGBW LEDs can be controlled with the four channels. But also the operation with four LEDs of the same color is possible with the terminal. The terminal has a flexible input voltage of 5…48 V DC. The output voltage corresponds to the input voltage. For the operation of multicolor LEDs the color portion per channel is adjustable.
The dimmer bus terminals with a rated power of up to 300 VA (W) for KL2751 and 600 VA (W) for KL2761 are designed for the direct connection of various lighting devices, such as incandescent lamps as well as inductive and electronic control gears. The lighting devices are detected and controlled in the correct operation mode. Integrated diagnostics indicate the operating states by means of LEDs and make the status data available via the bus system. The electronic dimmer is extremely compact and is equipped with automatic load detection.
The KL2602-0010 output terminal has two relays each of which has a single contact. The relay terminal is designed for soft switching at the zero voltage crossing to protect the contacts and is particularly suitable for capacitive loads such as LED lamps. The Bus Terminal indicates its signal state by means of light emitting diodes.
Solar protection plays an increasingly important role in today's climate conditions and the focus on energy saving. We offer a comprehensive component portfolio for blind control. The KL2722 bus terminal with internal locking logic is suitable for standard applications such as blinds or venetian blinds with a 230 V drive. The KL2602 is available for roller shutter drives. Many functions can be realized in combination with the function blocks from TwinCAT 3 Building Automation. Beckhoff's portfolio includes the KL2532 for small motors in the range from 24 to 48 V DC. The KL2552 is suitable for very precise louver adjustment; it allows the additional connection of encoders. Current measurement is integrated in both terminals. The Beckhoff range includes the KL2284 for standard DC motors.
The KL6831 and KL6841 SMI master terminals allow direct connection to the SMI bus system, simplifying the automation of blinds and solar protection devices. In combination with intelligent energy and lighting management, the slats can be positioned to the precise degree and tracked according to the position of the sun. The SMI drives can return actual positions, error messages and service information to the SMI master terminal.
Our panel generation with industry-standard multi-touch displays offers the right solution for controlling and/or visualizing any building functionality. Also for single-touch users, the new panel generation offers excellent value for money and a smart alternative to other systems.
The highlights at a glance:
The CP6606 Panel PC enables the control and visualization of all building functions. As a cost-saving but high-performance built-in Panel PC from the Economy series, the CP6606 takes over both the control of HVAC systems and the visualization. The display size of 7 and 10.1 inches is large enough for the local operation and monitoring of the systems. EtherCAT support can be used to connect the required I/O terminals and subsidiary bus systems to the Panel PC. The second Ethernet port can be used to connect the Panel PC to other systems and the Building Management System, such as BACnet/IP or the OPC UA protocol.
TwinCAT HMI makes consistent use of widely used IT standards such as HTML5, JavaScript and CSS. Through the integration of a fully graphical editor with an extensive toolbox in the familiar TwinCAT 3 engineering environment, it is possible to create extensive visualizations with little effort. Customer-specific functions that are not part of the visualization toolkit can be implemented using the IT standards mentioned above or via higher-level programming languages. The visualizations created are platform-independent and responsive on the client side. The powerful underlying architecture makes numerous application scenarios possible: from local panel solutions to multi-client, multi-server and multi-runtime configurations.
Instead of using proprietary systems, Beckhoff relies on IT standards:
TwinCAT IoT enables the seamless connection of the control platform to cloud services. The IoT connection can be realized either via the Beckhoff controller or to a third-party controller – or even without a controller at all via the Beckhoff IoT coupler. Standardized protocols such as AMQP, MQTT and OPC UA are available for simple and secure communication with the cloud. The TwinCAT IoT Communicator app allows direct mobile access to TwinCAT process data. The complete data acquisition in synchronization with the cycle takes place via TwinCAT Analytics, enabling data storage in the cloud and predictive maintenance of buildings and plants.
With the TwinCAT IoT functions, system integrators can shorten the engineering process, react more quickly to changes of plan and integrate or retrofit the connection of a private or public cloud directly into the standard controller. The integration of a cloud connection into the controller gives building operators fast access to all recorded energy consumption data from any location and at any time. Clear trend recordings form the basis for improved energy management in the smart building. Unusual events in the operating sequence, such as a sharp increase in water consumption, can be reported to the operator as an alarm. In this way, a pipe breakage can be detected at an early stage and consequential damage can be avoided.
OPC UA is gaining importance at all levels of the automation pyramid: scalability ranges from the small 15 KB footprint in embedded sensors to the ERP level in the case of SAP and the cloud. OPC UA has its origins in automation technology, but is neutral and is therefore increasingly used as a universal communication platform in the areas of building automation and smart metering. OPC UA provides platform independence as well as scalability from the sensor to the ERP/cloud level. Security-by-Design provides security concepts with user authentication, message signing and the encryption of transferred user data already in the OPC UA stack. It is precisely the specification of information models that makes OPC UA interesting for other organizations. They can organize their existing objects in the UA namespace, i.e. defining "What is being communicated?", while OPC UA regulates the secure transport and access rights in terms of "How will communication take place?"
