Most industrial controllers still run on closed RTOS or proprietary systems, limiting development and functional expansion to the vendor-provided interfaces. While PLCs remain undisputed in reliability, today’s project requirements go far beyond simple on/off control—data must go to the cloud, devices need remote maintenance, protocols must be translated, and real-time analytics are required at the edge. Traditional PLC architectures fall short when addressing these new demands, calling for edge devices better aligned with Industry 4.0 trends.
The ARMxy BL330 is built around the Allwinner T113-i heterogeneous multi-core processor (dual Cortex-A7) and natively supports Linux 5.4.61, the RT-preempt kernel, and Ubuntu 20.04. This allows developers to leverage standard Linux toolchains, open-source libraries, and containerised deployment directly.
Hardware adopts a modular design that separates the SOM (System-on-Module) from the X/Y series I/O boards. Options range from 256 MB to 1 GB of DDR3, 4 GB to 8 GB of eMMC, and over 1,000 I/O combinations covering RS485, RS232, CAN, up to 16 channels each of DI/DO, AI/AO, PT100/PT1000 RTDs, J/K/T/E/R/S/B/N type thermocouples, and relay outputs. This level of granularity ensures that the selected configuration precisely matches site requirements, avoiding the interface redundancy or resource shortage typical of generic models.
Pre-installed software includes the BLIoTLink protocol conversion stack and the BLRAT remote access tool, supporting mainstream industrial protocols such as Modbus, IEC 104, CANopen, and EtherCAT for seamless cloud platform integration. The QuickConfig utility and Node-RED visual programming reduce the configuration learning curve, while AI-assisted development further shortens the time-to-market for custom applications.
Typical applications include multi-protocol data fusion and edge analytics between PV inverters, energy storage PCS, and BMS; remote operation and centralised management of distributed energy sites; data acquisition, protocol translation, and cloud upload from legacy equipment; and edge computing nodes that require on-site execution of Python data analysis or C++ control algorithms.
Benefits for system integrators include precisely tailored configurations—pay only for the I/O and compute power actually needed; full reuse of development resources from the Linux ecosystem without being locked into proprietary environments; BLRAT enables remote diagnostics and maintenance without public IP addresses, substantially reducing on-site service costs for distributed projects; and the open system with standard toolchains ensures that future maintenance and feature upgrades remain independent of any single vendor.
The hardware has passed GB/T 17626 EMC tests up to Level 4, operates across a temperature range of –40 °C to +85 °C, and supports DIN-35 rail mounting, making it well suited for "compute-and-control" applications that conventional PLCs struggle to handle.
