For decades, industrial automation has largely been built around dedicated hardware, with control logic closely tied to a specific PLC platform. But as machines become more connected and automation systems evolve, this approach is being reconsidered.
What if control software could evolve more independently of the hardware it runs on?
Software-defined automation is changing how engineers think about control system design. Instead of treating the controller as a fixed, closed system, it places greater emphasis on reusable software, flexible development environments, and the ability to adapt control applications to changing project requirements.
For machine builders and system integrators, this can mean more freedom in selecting hardware, reusing established control logic, and developing new functions without redesigning the entire control architecture.
CODESYS supports this approach through its IEC 61131-3-based development environment and a runtime platform that can be implemented on different hardware architectures. Its familiar programming environment and reusable libraries can help engineering teams develop and maintain control applications more efficiently.
However, software flexibility alone does not make an industrial control system successful.
Industrial automation must operate in the physical world. Sensors need to be read, actuators need to respond, and control sequences must execute within the timing requirements of the application.
That means several factors remain essential:
Real-time performance: Control tasks must meet the timing requirements of the machine or process.
Physical I/O integration: Digital and analog signals, expansion modules, and field devices must work reliably with the controller.
Industrial reliability: The hardware must suit the operating environment and support stable, long-term operation.
System integration: Control logic needs to work alongside communication interfaces, fieldbus networks, and higher-level monitoring or data systems.
The goal is not to eliminate hardware from automation. It is to make hardware and software work together with greater flexibility.
An EdgePLC brings programmable industrial control together with edge computing capabilities. It can serve as a local control platform while supporting data processing and communication with other systems, depending on the hardware configuration and software architecture.
For applications such as machine automation, packaging equipment, inspection systems, and modular production lines, this approach offers an opportunity to combine machine-level control with local data handling in one platform.
BLIIOT offers a range of CODESYS-supported EdgePLC models, including BL234, BL235, BL237, BL241, BL244, BL245, and BL246. These models provide options for engineers designing different types of industrial control systems.
With CODESYS, developers can work within a familiar IEC 61131-3 programming environment, while the selected EdgePLC provides the hardware interfaces and computing resources required by the application. Actual capabilities, I/O compatibility, runtime functions, and licensing should be verified for each model and configuration.
Software-defined automation does not mean that every PLC should become a generic computer, nor does it mean that hardware constraints disappear.
Instead, it points toward a more flexible balance: software that is easier to develop and maintain, combined with industrial hardware designed for real-world control requirements.
The question is no longer simply which PLC to choose, but how to build a control platform that can adapt as machines, software, and production requirements evolve.
How is your team approaching this shift toward software-defined automation? Are you prioritizing software reuse, hardware flexibility, edge computing, or a combination of all three?
