internet-accessible distributed control
drive.web is an entirely new Internet-accessible distributed control technology designed specifically for use in high performance AC and DC drive systems. It is intended to eliminate the shortcomings and compromises involved in using conventional PLC-oriented topologies in drive systems.
drive.web advantages over PLCs
drive.web |
plc |
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| system performance | drive.web uses TCP/IP over Ethernet in a peer-to- peer distributed control configuration. The network and control processing is done in each node (drive or other control device) and as more nodes are added to a system the processing capacity increases proportionally and a high bandwidth is maintained regardless of the size or complexity of the system | PLCs use a central processing (CPU) concept that treats the nodes (drives and other control devices) as dumb remote i/o components. As more nodes are added to a system the CPU burden is increased and the bandwidth deteriorates |
| graphical signal flow diagram option | Showing point-to-point connections with dynamic state graphics on multiple page drawings. | Not normally available. |
| configuration data storage | All configuration data, including graphical signal flow diagram, is stored in each device | Typically only compiled data is stored in the PLC |
| programming | drive.web is intuitive and uses clear graphical block diagram presentation of process functions. The drive.web environment incorporates libraries of full-featured, engineered function blocks for applications such as drive coordination, winder control, cut to length, spindle orientation, etc., as well as basic functions for arithmetic, logic, comparators, filters, timers, counters, etc. | Programming tools are optimized for ladder logic programming and typically only offer basic signal processing functionality. |
| flexibility & reliability | Each node in a drive.web system can operate independently and systems can be designed to allow parts of the system to be shut down without affecting the entire system. | All processing is performed in the PLC CPU. If the CPU fails or is shut down the entire system is shut down. |
| multi-user access | drive.web supports multi-user access | Most PLCs only support single-user access |