With rising demand for processing multiple workloads on a single platform in industrial automation environments, Congatec, a leader in embedded and edge computing, and CODESYS Group, a hardware-independent control software company, have joined forces. The two companies are embarking on the development of a real-time control platform based on virtualization technology that enables the integrated operation of mixed-critical workloads.

Congatec announced on the 1st that it has entered into a strategic partnership with CODESYS Group.

The core of this collaboration is to combine Congatec's virtualization solution aReady.VT with the CODESYS Control runtime system.

The conga-zones hypervisor included in aReady.VT divides the embedded platform into multiple isolated zones, creating a structure where a general-purpose operating system and CODESYS PLC-based real-time control operate in parallel within each zone.

Both companies explained that this allows industrial controllers to be converted into IEC 61,131-3 standard-based PLCs using only software.

The core design goal of this platform is to simultaneously achieve deterministic real-time operation and secure isolation within a single system.
The concept is to implement the reliability, flexibility, and performance required in industrial sites where control technology virtualization is becoming widespread, on standard hardware.

“By integrating the conga-zones hypervisor with CODESYS PLCs, we can provide a solution that is easy to install and cost-effective while ensuring powerful real-time performance and isolation,” said Konrad Garhamer, COO and CTO of congatec. “This provides the flexibility to seamlessly operate various operating systems in the fields of automation and robotics.”

The CODESYS group showcased a demo using the conga-zones hypervisor at Embedded World in Germany last March.

Hilmar Panzer, CTO of the CODESYS Group, stated, “Virtualization of control technology is a key trend for optimizing the cost, scalability, and security of embedded control platforms,” adding, “Through this partnership, we will develop a collaborative model in which both machine and plant manufacturers and operational customers can experience the tangible benefits of virtualization.”