Openness is the key to the future
Open source technology has flourished in the IT industry, with companies like Microsoft, Sun, and IBM joining the ranks. When discussing the development of automation, the debate over standards arises; however, from the perspective of the IT and communications industries, openness is key to future success—this is an undeniable fact. The automation industry, compared to IT and communications, is relatively closed, with companies reluctant to open up for their own interests. This has allowed the most open technology, Ethernet, to gain a head start. Ethernet is booming, and research from various consulting firms shows that it leads various bus technologies with a market share approaching 50%. The success of technologies like CAN and Mudbugs is entirely due to their openness.
The advent of the software era
This division is somewhat representative. Although the development of control technology is indeed continuous and synchronous, software is indeed becoming the future trend. Over the past 10 years, the development of the automation industry has followed the development of the IT industry, including chip technology, software technology, and various business models. It is undeniable that open technologies from the IT industry are influencing the world.
For domestic automation manufacturers, how can they gain a competitive edge? Domestic automation manufacturers are currently investing heavily in developing their own PLC and DCS control systems, including motion control. However, a negative trend is the predicament of falling into a "price war." This predicament is understandable, given the gap in brand influence and R&D capabilities compared to European and American markets. However, a price war will leave domestic manufacturers unable to sustain their development. How to break through this predicament is a question worth considering.
Find a breakthrough in software
At the CAMRS forum, Mr. Tsai Chi-nan of Advantech mentioned software, using the iPhone as an example. He was particularly interested in the iPhone's ability to tell you that "there are 80,000 different apps that allow you to do all sorts of different things." The latest ones boast 100,000 different applications that can help you with almost anything. This is the charm of software; the same hardware platform's appeal stems entirely from the software it offers. Windows' success today is entirely due to the vast array of applications provided by numerous companies worldwide. Although real-time performance is its weakness in industry, it remains widely used.
Open source software provides the possibility for independent innovation.
Currently, open source technology is booming. This includes open source RT-Linux, which can be applied to DCS, CNC systems, embedded motion controllers, PLCs, and special-purpose control systems as their development and operation platform. Open source real-time communication technology POWERLINK, open source diagnostic software, testing software, and even open source PLC software platforms can all provide product operation and application platforms for building entire control system products, including HMI, PLC, motion, I/O, and communication, which can be appropriately customized to form a system.
There are also some problems here. Open source software is not "ready to use". Its implementation requires a large number of "software service providers" to design systems for different hardware platforms and controllers. Such middleware service providers are rare in China. Most of them are concentrated in services for the IT industry. For example, many of the software programs for Apple iPhones are designed based on open source technology. However, due to the failure to see this vast market and the dominant position of existing proprietary technologies, this market has not yet been developed. In Europe, middleware service providers such as Infoteam and 3S have achieved great success. They can be seen in the product development of various major manufacturers. On the surface, it seems that these automation companies provide the systems, but in reality, most of the software behind the scenes is implemented by these more specialized companies with more refined division of labor.
The government has policies regarding open-source technology and embedded system development, but these are mostly applied to research and difficult to put into practical use. This is because there is a lack of a good platform for domestic manufacturers to jointly build an interactive organization—similar to the ubiquitous open-source communities and alliances on the internet. This is a good example in the IT industry, but the automation industry is relatively closed. However, looking at past history, if you want to focus on the future, you should pay more attention to the development of the IT industry.
Another direction for the development of domestic control systems in software is the exploration of integrated industry software – how to develop industry-specific software for specific applications, such as CNC technology, robotics technology, and OEM manufacturing, and the integration of industry function libraries for process control. This is the only way to achieve breakthroughs in a specific field and gradually penetrate the market in a point-to-surface manner. Facing enormous pressure from direct competition with European and American manufacturers in the general market, domestic automation manufacturers, especially process control system manufacturers, have usually developed in certain industries such as power, papermaking, automotive, and petrochemical. Their biggest advantage lies in their understanding of the corresponding industries. For example, Jinzitian is in the metallurgical industry, Hollysys in the transportation industry, and Supcon in the power industry. In the field of mechanical automation, the professional controller field is still dominated by foreign companies. For example, DELEM is in bending, Uster in textile machine leveling systems, Marlowe in sizing regainers, and Eltromat in color matching systems. Specialized controllers need to be developed with a clear industry focus and application perspective. Currently, there are many domestic manufacturers developing in the mechanical manufacturing industry.
How to utilize open source technology is indeed a topic worth exploring. Open source technology can bring us many beneficial attempts. From the perspective of obtaining products with independent intellectual property rights, open source technology can undoubtedly provide domestic manufacturers with an opportunity to try and achieve new development. This requires not only the government to make some efforts in integrating resources, but also for enterprises to adopt an open attitude towards the future, and for manufacturers to be willing to try and make efforts in this direction. At least some moderate discussions are also extremely necessary.
Discussion
Although this is still a technology and market that is not well understood today, the cost of discussion is not high. At least everyone can communicate more, share information, list problems and doubts, and work together to find solutions.
What are the bottlenecks of open-source technology? What are its risks?
Market risks and technological risks may exist, but how to overcome them, or what kind of market is more suitable for open source technology, what kind of products, and what kind of enterprises are more suitable for using open source technology to build systems?
How to build systems using open-source technologies may require not only automation vendors, but also software service providers, universities, research institutions, and chip manufacturers to better clarify the issues.
Only with more attention and communication will the problem become clearer - there is no absolute dead end, nor is there an easy road. This was true in the past, is true today, and will be true in the future. However, tomorrow lies in today's attention.
