Multi-cloud industrial controller
An industrial controller including a controller for controlling one or multiple field bus(es) in an automation system, first pieces of configuration information for configuring a communication link to a first cloud platform, second pieces of configuration information for configuring a communication link to a second cloud platform, and to for transfer process data of the automation system to the first and the second cloud platform.
1 . An industrial controller comprising:
a controller to control one or multiple field devices in an automation system;
first pieces of configuration information for configuring a communication link from the controller to a first cloud platform;
second pieces of configuration information for configuring a communication link from the controller to a second cloud platform; and
an output for transferring process data of the automation system from the controller to the first and the second cloud platform,
wherein the industrial controller is a programmable logic controller (PLC) and comprises firmware, and
wherein the first and the second pieces of configuration information are stored in the firmware.
2 . The industrial controller according to claim 1 , wherein the industrial controller is configured to transfer the same process data to the first and the second cloud platform.
3 . The industrial controller according to claim 1 , wherein the industrial controller is configured to transfer different process data to the first and the second cloud platform.
4 . The industrial controller according to claim 1 , further comprising a data distributor to transfer the process data to an ERP system, a SCADA system and/or a visualization system.
5 . The industrial controller according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first cloud platform and the second cloud platform host multiple computing services and/or applications.
6 . A system comprising:
an industrial controller according to claim 1 ; and
a gateway configured to connect the industrial controller to the first and the second cloud platform.
7 . The system according to claim 6 , further comprising a communication link between the first cloud platform and the second cloud platform to exchange pieces of information between the first and the second cloud platform.
8 . A method for connecting an industrial controller to a first and a second cloud platform, the method comprising:
configuring a communication link between the industrial controller and the first cloud platform; and
configuring a communication link between the industrial controller and the second cloud platform,
wherein the industrial controller is a programmable logic controller (PLC) and comprises firmware, and
wherein first and the second pieces of configuration information for configuring the communication links are stored in the firmware.
9 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program thereon that, when executed in the firmware of the industrial controller, causes the industrial controller to carry out the method according to claim 8 .
10 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein each of the first cloud platform and the second cloud platform host multiple computing services and/or applications.