More than 400 interested visitors traveled to Kempten in the Allgäu region on May 16 to hear first-hand from company bosses Dieter Hess and Manfred Werner about the future technology roadmap for the IEC 61131-3 automation software Codesys for project planning of control systems. To date, the company's product portfolio has been based on two main pillars: the Codesys engineering software and the PLC runtime environment of the same name. Now, with the 'Automation Server', a third component is being added that is crucial for the implementation of Industry 4.0.

The 'Codesys Automation Server' is designed to help simplify typical tasks that were previously very difficult to implement. In future, for example, users will have a quick overview of all compatible controllers in their network in a web interface, can immediately see their status and application versions and, if necessary, roll out new applications directly via their browser - regardless of whether the data is displayed on a PC, tablet or even smartphone. Other convenient functions include the central commissioning of numerous controllers with one and the same application, commissioning by service personnel completely without the Codesys Development System, and the replacement of controllers with an automated backup/restore mechanism. Last but not least, firmware updates of the runtime system can be imported via the 'Codesys Automation Server' without having to stop the application (hot swapping). Further expansion stages and functional enhancements are already being planned. The Automation Server can be installed on common cloud systems, but also on the machine and plant manufacturers' or operators' own server architectures.

3S Managing Director Manfred Werner: "IIoT will penetrate all sectors in which Codesys is already used today - from mechanical engineering and mobile applications to process and building automation."

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In addition to the Automation Server, the 3S team also showcased other software enhancements at the Technology Day that are designed to make compatible devices in the Industry 4.0 environment even more powerful. In future, IT security vulnerabilities can be recorded using the integrated 'Threat Modeling Editor' and then closed at application runtime via a security patch of the PLC runtime system. There was also a live demonstration of how easy it is to transfer application data from any controller to Microsoft or Amazon Web Services cloud systems, where it generates corresponding benefits. In a sample project with decentralized intelligence, the Kempten-based company also demonstrated the added value of the new communication and management options as well as the possibilities of the extended integrated visualization of Codesys with the aim of greatly reducing the project planning effort and further improving the visual design options.

At the end of the one-day event, Manfred Werner once again summarized his vision of the future of PLC programming: "The application engineer of tomorrow no longer cares about runtime, compiler or library versions. They will no longer install any software on their notebook, tablet or smartphone. Instead, all they need is Internet access or a browser and a connection to a Codesys Automation Server. The latter has a fully V3-compatible Codesys engine."

Playing Lego with Codesys

For Manfred Werner's vision to become reality, however, further work needs to be done on the architecture of the software platform. Head of Development Kevin Ketterle summed up what is meant by this: "To ensure that all Codesys modules - such as those for continuous integration or the Ladder Editor - can run in any server, browser or mobile device environment, we have to adapt both the logic part and the user interface accordingly. This means, for example, that we have to rewrite the interface part in the relevant frameworks that are widely used in the web environment, such as HTML5 or Java Script."

It is already important to create the necessary technical requirements for this long-term goal. Accordingly, 3S launched an internal development project this year called 'Automation Platform Modularization'. Ketterle explains: "In short, we are taking apart the existing components of Codesys and putting them back together again in a different form. Or to put it metaphorically: We will play Lego with Codesys!"

However, it is important for the Head of Development to emphasize in this context: "These are purely internal conversions that end users will not notice. Many will still remember the step from version V2 to V3 and the 'pain' associated with this technology cut. - This will certainly no longer be the case with the upcoming realignment of the architecture!" And Ketterle made another promise to the assembled audience: "Codesys will continue to exist as a Windows-based programming system in 2025. And even in a cloud environment, a Codesys project will still be a Codesys project and a device description will still be a device description. The bottom line is that we want our core product to remain architecturally fit for the next decade and not develop a patina!"