PLC, Automation & Programming!
In my proffession as an Automation Engineer, programming is very
important to me. My programming skills ranges over different
areas of computers and applications:
PLC ( Programmable Logic Controllers ) are computers special
designed for industrial applications, such as operating, meassuring
and process- controlling of industrial machines and production
equipment, or supervisoring and data aquisition off production-
lines.
This part off the automation engineering usually includes the
design and construction off the electro- technical parts off a
automation system. This is done using AutoCAD with an electro
"add on" application, as a main tool.
In some cases, the power off a PC, a VAX, or a mainframe is
needed, and the integration between an industrial computing
enviroment, and a "office" computing enviroment, demands power-
full and efficent programcode to make this work.
The communication between these kinds off system, is often done
with an ETHERNET connection.
To achive these functions, a standard computer language is nessecry.
The programming language C and its superset C++ is very well suited
for this kind of requirements.
Its flexabillity , the varities in compilers and enviromets, the
portabillity and the functions in C makes it one off the best
and most popular languages for technical applications.
The main thing in automation- programming is communication,
network and hardwarecontroll.
For time- critical and very high frequency operations,assembler
code sometimes is needed. But the evolution in the field off PLC's
makes assemblercode much less used these days.
For a lesson in dataologi, languistics, computer- enviroments
and operating systems, please check out my Computer page