What is IEC 61499?
IEC 61499 is a standard for distributed control systems built on portable Function Blocks that can run across multiple hardware platforms, forming the technical foundation for “Universal Automation” where control logic belongs to the customer.
Technical Definition: A standard for distributed control systems built on Function Blocks – encapsulated software modules that can run on multiple hardware platforms simultaneously. IEC 61499 extends IEC 61131 to support distributed automation where control logic is not tied to a single PLC.
Why it matters: With IEC 61499, control logic becomes portable across hardware platforms. This is the technical foundation for “Universal Automation” – where the customer owns the logic, and hardware becomes an interchangeable commodity.
HubMind’s view: IEC 61499 represents the future of automation: software-defined, hardware-independent control. We recommend it for greenfield projects where long-term flexibility and logic ownership are priorities.
External link: IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).
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