PLC versus computers
Over the past 20 or so years, the cost of computers has dropped significantly. This drop in price has given rise to cheaper and more powerful computers. This increase in computing power and decrease in price has been reflected in all aspects of life. For example, smartphones are now an integral part of society; virtually everyone has easy access to tablets, such as Kindles, smart homes are on the rise, and more. This shift in computing has also seeped into the automation world. In contrast to the past, hardware-based control panels have been replaced with touchscreen HMIs, advanced networking technologies are employed everywhere, and, of course, PLCs (that more resemble modern computers as opposed to microcontrollers) are a mainstay in most factories. But before the similarities between a PLC and a computer can be explored, it is important to understand what a computer is.
What is a computer?
Describing a computer can be a bit difficult because many devices...
