What are the types of Industrial Control Systems?

Industrial Control System is a group phrase used to describe various types of control systems and connected instrumentation that includes the networks, devices, controls, and systems used for operating and automating industrial processes.

Each Industrial Control system functions in a different way depending on the industry and is planned to handle functions proficiently electronically. In almost all industrial sectors and significant infrastructures that include transportation, production, water treatments, and power, the protocols, and devices used in Industrial Control Systems are now utilized.

SCADA (Supervisory control and data acquisition), PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers)and DCS (Distributed Control Systems), IACS (Industrial Automation and Control Systems), PACs (Programmable Automation Controllers), IEDs (Intelligent Electronic Devices), RTUs (Remote Terminal Units), HMI (Human-Machine Interface), sensors and control servers are the common applications of industrial control systems.

What are the types of Industrial Control Systems?

Based on the complexity and the functionality of the control action, industrial control systems are distinguished:

PLCs - PLCs stands for Programmable Logic Controllers, which is a solid-state control system having a user-programmable memory to store instructions for implementing precise functions like timing, I/O control, counting, logic, communication, three modes (PID) control, file processing, arithmetic, and data processing.

DCS - DCS stands for Distributed Control System, which is an industrial control system installed and controlled in a distributed mode such that several distributed control systems or procedures are controlled independently. In this system, control is attained by intelligence, which is distributed about the procedures to be controlled instead of a centrally located single unit.

SCADA - SCADA stands for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition a broad term for a computerized system, which is proficient to gather and process data and apply functional controls over long distances. Typical uses comprise power transmission, distribution, and pipeline systems. SCADA was made for the exclusive communication challenges created by the different mediums that must be utilized, for instance, microwave, phone lines, and satellite.

RTU - RTU stands for Remote Terminal Units, which is a microprocessor-based electronic device utilized in ICS (industrial control systems) for connecting various hardware to DCS (distributed control systems) or SCADA. RTUs are even called remote units of tele-control or telemetry. Sensor data from RTU is passed to the input streams in the control loop to an output stream to be passed on to ICS centralized command. RTUs discuss links to home or remote controls.

IACS - IACS stands for Industrial automation control system solutions that include safe infrastructure to permit information transfers and communications along with smart equipment for information collection. Machines and machinery sensors generally achieve this. IACS also include software, hardware, and communication options to change sensor information into information

PACs - PACs stands for Programmable Automation Controllers a phrase, which is used freely to describe any automation controller comprising of superior-level instructions. The systems are utilized for devices in a wide spectrum of sectors that includes those occupied in important infrastructure, in ICS (industrial control systems).

IEDs - IEDs stands for Intelligent Electronic Devices, which is an electronic component including a regulator and circuit control having a microprocessor and can converse, usually digitally utilizing real-time ethernet, Fieldbus, or other manufacturing protocols.