Engineers at the St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences have developed a modular architecture for industrial automation systems that eliminates manual wire routing. At its core is a cross-board with slots into which modules are installed directly, the institution's press service told TASS.
The printed circuit board performs three functions: a mechanical frame, a power distribution unit, and a communication medium with routing for RS-485, CAN, and 100 Mbps Ethernet networks. When installed, a module automatically receives power with the required polarity and access to all communication channels. In addition, each cross-board has non-volatile memory containing a "system passport" - a record of the configuration of each slot, the parameters, and the purpose of the modules. Even after years of operation, if the design data is lost, the settings remain in place.
The solution has already moved beyond the laboratory prototype stage. The first control unit has been put into pilot industrial operation, and the module lineup is expanding.
Unlike monolithic programmable controllers, where the failure of a single device paralyzes the cabinet, this architecture makes it possible to replace individual modules without searching for obsolete models.
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