The Industrial Internet of Things, or Industry 4.0, is connecting all objects and creating completely new value creation and business processes. This is a trend that HMI manufacturers do not want to and must not miss out on. For this reason, Exor has launched the new X platform on the market - which will act as Exor's IoT modular system in future. With the X platform, users should be able to take the step towards Industry 4.0 with proven technology. Thanks to its multi-protocol capability, older applications can be integrated for digitalization. At the same time, the platform provides all the technologies required to meet the RAMI4.0 reference architecture model - including OPC UA. The platform is based on an all-in-one concept with an HMI-PLC gateway-cloud edge interface. The X platform can be used as a conventional controller with or without a display for machine or system control. At the same time, the same hardware and software architecture is used for integration into the factory automation network to achieve greater transparency and increase productivity. This data is then processed at a local, high-performance fog/edge level. - This is because many companies still shy away from the external cloud for security reasons.

Consistent and scalable product portfolio

The product portfolio ranges from DIN rail-mountable devices (eXware700) and control cabinet installation devices (eX700 Series) to field-compatible IP67 devices (eX700 Field). They are particularly characterized by their consistency and scalability. All X platform products are based on Linux with the OSADL real-time extension. Based on the proven microSOM system-on-module with powerful IMX6 DualLite 1.0GHz and IMX6 Quad 1.2GHz processors, many applications can be implemented. An IEC61131-3 PLC is also available with Codesys. There is also a wide range of bus protocols such as Profinet, Ethercat, EthernetIP, Bacnet or OPC UA. Exor also considers it necessary to use a powerful and standardized communication network. For example, the so-called "deterministic ethernet" for industry with corresponding switches to achieve IoT-compatible delay and guaranteed response times. To this end, the company was one of the first providers to implement the IEEE 802.1 TSN standard. The OPC UA standard is used for communication. Any number of interfaces and I/Os can be expanded using a modular concept.

Suitable software solution

JMobile Studio is a suitable software solution that allows applications to be created easily, intuitively and professionally for the X platform. The open source software Node-RED is already integrated into JMobile. This makes it easy to create nodes and flows that enable simple communication with a cloud/edge device. Other new software technologies such as yocto, node js and HTML5 are also used on the X platform. In JMobile, the user can decide individually whether the project is created for runtime or as HTML for WEB visualization (JM4web). As a variant for WEB-based applications, the visualization can then be displayed via the WEB browser Chromium.