Schneider Electric, in collaboration with technology giants like Intel and Red Hat, has announced the launch of an innovative software framework called Distributed Control Node (DCN). This solution, which is an extension of Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure™ Automation Expert, marks a milestone in the industry by facilitating the transition to software-defined industrial automation solutions, allowing companies to improve their operations, ensure quality, reduce complexity, and optimize costs.
This project is the result of two years of co-innovation between the three companies, with the goal of creating efficient and future-ready distributed control systems. “The DCN framework is key to adopting an open automation approach that enables industrial companies to grow and innovate for the future,” expressed Nathalie Marcotte, Senior Vice President of Process Automation at Schneider Electric. The solution emphasizes the importance of interoperability and portability, offering customers the freedom to adapt the technology to their business needs.
The collaboration between Red Hat and Intel has resulted in the creation of a new industrial edge platform, providing a modern approach to building and operating industrial controls. Schneider Electric has implemented this technology into the DCN software, integrating Red Hat Device Edge, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, and Red Hat OpenShift, along with Schneider Electric’s control infrastructure and Intel’s reference architecture.
The DCN framework consists of two main components: an Advanced Computing Platform (ACP) that monitors control workload, and the DCN, low-power industrial systems equipped with Intel Atom x6400E processors, designed to run controls and tailored for mixed-criticality workloads.
Christine Boles, Vice President of Intel’s Network and Edge Group and General Manager for Federal and Industrial Solutions, highlighted Intel’s commitment to open systems and the importance of this collaboration in advancing towards flexible and dynamic software-based infrastructures in the industry. “This collaboration with Schneider Electric and Red Hat to develop a software-defined control system represents a significant step forward in the transition to more open and interconnected industrial solutions,” Boles affirmed.
Francis Chow, Vice President and General Manager of In-Vehicle Operating System and Edge at Red Hat, reiterated Red Hat’s commitment to the manufacturing sector and the importance of establishing autonomous and scalable software-defined operations. “We are excited about this collaboration, which represents just the beginning of what we can achieve together. By adopting these solutions now, the industrial sector can unlock the full potential of artificial intelligence, edge computing, and more,” Chow commented.
A live demonstration of the DCN solution was held at the 2024 ARC Industry Leadership Forum in Orlando, Florida, from February 5 to 8, showcasing the next generation of industrial control and the unlimited possibilities that this innovation brings for the future of industrial automation.