C
Curt Wuollet
Hi Mike
I would say that yours is a good example of making it work rather than simply assuming it can't be done. I have been trying to do much the
same with a PLC form factor, PC compatible, hardware platform for MAT or other, preferably Linux control software. Showing that the problems
are relatively easy to solve gains a lot more traction than discussing them. My recent enforced vacation virtually wiped out this effort and I
still haven't managed to find the time and resources to proceed, but the approach is much the same.
For users who don't want to know, it could be treated in much the same way as any other PLC product. although I don't see myself writing
Windows tools. Because it would be really Open, anyone with a burning desire could do so and contribute them to the community. People with
sophisticated needs or tastes could do nearly anything possible with Linux, which would raise the bar for automation platforms considerably.
Since I am from a T&M background this could answer the gap between automation and autometed testing as well. And the growing need for hard or soft realtime with PLC functionality could be met fairly easily on this platform. Currently I am torn as to whether I can go it alone and publish a free design, or gather up a few investors and
make a product out of it.
It's not at all that I want or need to make money from it, but that a ready to run product with spares, support, etc. might have a bigger impact and do more to further the cause. Just as many are struggling to get their arms around a suitable software model, I am thinking hard to find a hardware model where there is even less precedent. SoftPLC's Tealware and Grayhill's modular product haven't set the would on fire.
And very few people could or would make their own from a reference design.
Something in the middle is needed. A way to do the hard parts without doing a full blown manufactory and raising burden. And all of it while staying Open and giving the customer a clearly better deal. Stuff you can buy and/or use is what's really limiting Linux in the field. And a platform that is as user friendly as Linux and already commoditized. It's a tall order, but quite doable. I can feel it. I know I can do it. I just want to build a winner for all parties.
Regards
cww
I would say that yours is a good example of making it work rather than simply assuming it can't be done. I have been trying to do much the
same with a PLC form factor, PC compatible, hardware platform for MAT or other, preferably Linux control software. Showing that the problems
are relatively easy to solve gains a lot more traction than discussing them. My recent enforced vacation virtually wiped out this effort and I
still haven't managed to find the time and resources to proceed, but the approach is much the same.
For users who don't want to know, it could be treated in much the same way as any other PLC product. although I don't see myself writing
Windows tools. Because it would be really Open, anyone with a burning desire could do so and contribute them to the community. People with
sophisticated needs or tastes could do nearly anything possible with Linux, which would raise the bar for automation platforms considerably.
Since I am from a T&M background this could answer the gap between automation and autometed testing as well. And the growing need for hard or soft realtime with PLC functionality could be met fairly easily on this platform. Currently I am torn as to whether I can go it alone and publish a free design, or gather up a few investors and
make a product out of it.
It's not at all that I want or need to make money from it, but that a ready to run product with spares, support, etc. might have a bigger impact and do more to further the cause. Just as many are struggling to get their arms around a suitable software model, I am thinking hard to find a hardware model where there is even less precedent. SoftPLC's Tealware and Grayhill's modular product haven't set the would on fire.
And very few people could or would make their own from a reference design.
Something in the middle is needed. A way to do the hard parts without doing a full blown manufactory and raising burden. And all of it while staying Open and giving the customer a clearly better deal. Stuff you can buy and/or use is what's really limiting Linux in the field. And a platform that is as user friendly as Linux and already commoditized. It's a tall order, but quite doable. I can feel it. I know I can do it. I just want to build a winner for all parties.
Regards
cww