A programmable automation controller (PAC) is a compact, based on the characteristics and capabilities of a PC-based system to monitor with a controller typical of the programmable logic (PLC). CAP, the most common in the industry for monitoring processes, the acquisition of data, the equipment of remote monitoring, and machine vision from the control of movement. In addition, because they are properly 
communicating and most of the protocols have a network card, such as TCP / IP, OLE for process control (OPC), and SMTP, CAP are in a position, the transfer of data from machines that control to other machinery and components of a system for monitoring the network, or software for the application and databases.
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PACs for Industrial Control, the Future of Control
For the last decade a passionate debate has raged about the advantages and disadvantages of PLCs (programmable logic controllers) compared to PC-based control. As the technological differences between PC and PLC wane, with PLCs using commercial off the shelf (COTS) hardware and PC systems incorporating real-time operating systems, a new class of controllers, the PAC is emerging. PAC, a new acronym created by Automation Research Corporation (ARC), stands for Programmable Automation Controller and is used to describe a new generation of industrial controllers that combine the functionality of a PLC and a PC. The PAC acronym is being used both by traditional PLC vendors to describe their high end systems and by PC control companies to describe their industrial control platforms. 
During the three decades after their introduction, PLCs have evolved in order to integrate the analog I / O, communication over networks, and new standards such as IEC 61131-3 programming. However, 80% of engineers to create industrial applications with digital I / O, analog few I / O points, and simple programming techniques. Experts from the CRA, Venture Development Corporation (VDC), and online training PLC PLCS.net source maintained that:
- 77% of PLCs are used in applications for small (less than 128 I / O)
- 72% of PLC I / O Digital
- 80% of PLC application challenges are resolved with a series of 20 scale logic instructions Read the rest of this entry »
Cost-aware design Enhancing EDA flows with economic insight.
By Casey J,Chip Estimate Corp.
When I joined the design automation industry in 1980 at Calma, CAD stood for computer-aided design. But now that EDA(Electronic Design Automation) has taken over as more common term, I’ll take the liberty of resurrecting the old familiar acronym and follow the lead of the industry around reuse and apply CAD to an emerging trend: Cost-Aware Design. 
Along with performance and power, cost has always been a factor in assessing the viability of a chip project. As reported in the March 5, Electronic News article, “Cost now driving factor in ]tag]semiconductors[/tag],” managing costs becomes even more critical as new lithography nodes come online. Some techniques used by different companies are noted and include approaches aimed at controlling escalating manufacturing costs (portable manufacturing processes, outsourcing process R&D, and using FPGAs) and minimizing resources required to Read the rest of this entry »
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