Extension of Control Functionality through the Integration of Container Technologies (ESIC)

可编程逻辑控制器（PLC）是自动化技术的核心部件。在配置和编程PLC时，重点是稳定性。遵守严格的实时标准和较长的使用寿命（15年以上）是规则。在工业4.0的进程中，PLC的应用领域不断扩大。增加了与云系统的数据传输接口、面向服务的软件架构、人工智能的使用、增值服务的集成和使用。如今，这些应用场景都是通过虚拟化技术（例如虚拟机管理程序或容器）实现的云服务。由于现场级和云端之间的通信链路增加，直接链接到流程并要求硬实时的应用场景无法实现为云服务。因此，有必要将这些应用场景直接集成到控制系统中，并能够实现短开发周期和高更新频率。在云环境中，这是通过使用容器技术等来实现的。仍然需要研究这些技术在控制环境中的使用，特别是在PLC中。容器的可执行性符合硬实时标准，容器间的通信和控制架构上的进程隔离是开放的研究领域。

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are core components of automation technology. When configuring and programming PLCs, the focus is on stability. Compliance with hard real-time criteria and a long service life (15+ years) are the rule. In the course of Industry 4.0, the field of application of PLCs has expanded. Interfaces for data transmission with cloud systems, service-oriented software architectures, the use of artificial intelligence, the integration and use of value-added services have been added. Today, these application scenarios are realized as cloud services using virtualization technologies (e.g. hypervisor or container). Due to the increased communication link between the field level and the cloud, application scenarios, which are directly linked to the process and require hard real-time, cannot be implemented as cloud services. It is therefore necessary to integrate these application scenarios directly into the control system and to be able to realize the short development cycles and high update frequencies. In the cloud environment, this is made possible by the use of container technologies, among other things. There is still a need for research into the use of these technologies in the control environment, especially in the PLC. The executability of containers in compliance with hard real-time criteria, inter-container communication and the isolation of processes on control architectures are open fields of research.