Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has teamed up with Intel and Red Hat to release a new software framework for industrial control.

The Distributed Control Node (DCN) software framework is an extension of Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure™ Automation Expert that allows industrial companies to enhance their operations, ensure quality, reduce complexity, and optimize costs by moving to a software-defined, plug-and-produce solution.

The DCN software framework is aligned with the goals of the Open Process Automation Forum (OPAF), which aims to drive interoperability and portability in the industrial control domain. The three collaborators have created a modern, network-based experience that will lead the way to the next generation of industrial control.

Nathalie Marcotte, Senior Vice President of Process Automation at Schneider Electric, said: “This project is the culmination of two years of co-innovation to create efficient, future-proof distributed control systems. The DCN framework is key to fostering an open automation approach, enabling industrial businesses to grow and innovate for the future. Its interoperability and portability help our customers enjoy the freedom of shaping technology around their business needs – and not the other way around.”

The DCN software framework consists of two main components: an advanced computer platform (ACP), which supervises the control workload by providing the content control and automation capabilities needed to deploy workloads securely and programmatically, along with virtualization and monitoring functionalities; and the DCN, which are low-power, industrial systems using Intel Atom x6400E series processors, dedicated to running controls and designed for workloads of mixed-criticality.

Schneider Electric has deployed Red Hat Device Edge in the new DCN software, in addition to Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform and Red Hat Open.

“Open and interconnected commercial solutions will help usher in the transition from fixed function proprietary devices to flexible and dynamic software-based infrastructures,” said Christine Boles, Vice President of Intel’s Network and Edge Group and General Manager for Federal and Industrial Solutions. “Intel has a long history of driving open system approaches across its ecosystem. This collaboration with Schneider Electric and Red Hat to develop a software-defined control system showcasing next-generation distributed control nodes built on general purpose compute and operating systems brings about this transition to the industrial sector.”

“Red Hat is committed to helping manufacturers implement autonomous operations on the shop floor,” said Francis Chow, Vice President and General Manager of In-Vehicle Operating System and Edge at Red Hat. “By working closely with our partners like Schneider Electric and Intel, we can help build scalable, software-defined factories and operations capable of advanced automation and interoperability by utilizing a consistent platform approach. We’re excited about this collaboration, and this is only the beginning. By taking these steps now, we can help set the industrial sector up to explore all the possibilities AI, edge computing and more have to offer.”

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