Industrial monitoring and control world has always been associated with PLC concept. Until recently, programmable logic controllers were always the first option to digitalize a factory, but this paradigm has just changed. Devices like eManager or Raspberry Pi provide a solid alternative, or even a complement, to make the leap into Industry 4.0.
What is a PLC?
A PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), or industrial controller, is an industrial computer with capacity to collect and process data from sensors, meters, devices, machines, buttons, and other type of digital and analog inputs. This data is processed and used to manage outputs, including valves, relays, engines, ….
A PLC is an element designed to automate industrial processes using ladder or block diagrams.
What is a Raspberry Pi?
Raspberry Pi is a single-board low-cost computers range initially designed to promote computer science learning on school, but nowadays is widely used on IT prototypes, robotics and other applications related with multimedia.
Nowadays we can find industrial versions of Raspberry Pi which include though enclosure, extended temperature and humidity range, and conformity with the main standards CE, UL and RoHs.
What is an eManager?
eManager is and industrial IoT-ready controller ideal to easily developing industrial and edge computing applications. It is equipped with a Multilanguage API which include the most popular programming language for IoT applications (C, C++, Python, Go, Java...) and Node-RED software fully integrated.
Node-RED includes protocols such as Modbus, BACNET, MQTT, OPC-UA, together with easy communication with platforms like Amazon WBS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud and more.
Comparison PLC vs Raspberry Pi vs eManager
The following table compares different features and shows the strengths and debilities of each industrial device:
Features | PLC | Raspberry Pi | eManager |
---|---|---|---|
Device type |
Programmable Logic Controller or industrial digital computer | Single-board computer | Industrial IoT-ready controller |
Modular system |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Expandable on field |
Yes | No | No |
Real-time CPU capabilities |
Yes | No, a central Linux CPU is not enough to control real-time processes | Yes, with a microcontroller in each I/O module with its own application |
Product category |
Industrial | Domestic | Industrial |
Power supply |
24 VDC or 230 VAC | 12/24 VDC | 9-36 VDC or 100-264 VAC |
RS-232/RS-485 |
Yes | Only RS-485 | Yes |
Ethernet |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
Wi-Fi |
Depends on the model | Yes | Yes |
GPRS / 4G |
GPRS & 4G as Expansion module | No | GPRS & 4G as Expansion module |
Input / Output |
Digital & Analog I/O and PT100/1000 Inputs | Self-developing combined with Arduino or other I/O hardware | Digital & Analog Input / Output and PT-100 Expansion modules |
Battery |
No | No | Yes, Supercap expansion module |
Energy metering |
Via external meter through RS-485 | Via external meter through RS-485 | Single-phase and three-phase as Expansion module |
Operating System |
Depends on the manufacturer | Linux Debian adapted; Raspberry Pi OS | Linux Yocto |
Development environment |
Depends on PLC programming software | Self-installing environment | Node-RED and the Multilanguage API for self-developments |
Programming method |
Ladder logic (each action depends upon conditions) | Code language programming (Python, C, C++, Java, ...) | Code language programming (Python, C, C++, Java, ...) or Node-RED |
Cloud connectivity |
Depends on the PLC, but it's not a core feature | Self-installing | Integrated MQTT, REST API & more with Node-RED |
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