PLC, PAC and EPIC. That is, programmable logic controller, programmable automation controller—and now—edge programmable industrial controller, new from Opto 22. The PLC ran on ladder language, replaced relays and wasn’t initially set up to deal with analog values—until analog I/O cards and new software also allowed for analog operation. The PAC fixed the issues with analog I/O and was versatile enough to work with varying I/O types and multiple communication capabilities, but it required interfaces to work with a larger automation system—gateways, on-premises and cloud applications.

Enter EPIC—a controller capable of handling analog and discrete I/O with direct connection to sensors and actuators, running real-time tasks on board and connecting safely to cloud-based and on-premises applications. Opto 22’s groov EPIC is elegant in its simplicity and extremely secure, providing real-time performance and a built-in HMI. How it came to be is an interesting story.