| Creators: |
May, Gunther and Nagrath, Vineet |
| Title: |
Virtualized Industrial Controls for Software-Defined Automation |
| Item Type: |
Conference or Workshop Item |
| Event Title: |
(Proceedings of the) 21st Midwest Association for Information Systems Conference (MWAIS) 2026 |
| Event Location: |
Athens, Ohio, USA |
| Event Dates: |
May, 21-22, 2026 |
| Projects: |
TTZ Leipheim |
| Paper No. / Type of Paper: |
62 |
| Date: |
21 May 2026 |
| Divisions: |
Informationsmanagement |
| Abstract (ENG): |
The urgent need for increased flexibility in discrete manufacturing, driven by mass customization and volatile markets, is a primary driver behind the shift towards software-defined manufacturing. Traditional, hardware-constrained control systems struggle to support rapid format changes or the integration of novel software-based features. This paper explores virtualization as the key enabler to decouple machine logic from physical hardware. By utilizing virtual machines (VMs) and containerization, a machine controller is transformed into a portable, hardware-independent software asset. This transition allows for scalable compute power and continuous feature updates throughout a machine's lifecycle. However, achieving deterministic real-time performance and functional safety within virtual layers remains a significant hurdle. To address these challenges, the authors propose a hybrid virtualization architecture, partitioning high-speed control loops from complex, virtualized functions. This approach provides a scalable path towards future-proof, highly adaptable production environments. |
| Forthcoming: |
No |
| Language: |
English |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Software-defined automation, virtualized control, vPLC |
| Citation: |
May, Gunther and Nagrath, Vineet
(2026)
Virtualized Industrial Controls for Software-Defined Automation.
In: (Proceedings of the) 21st Midwest Association for Information Systems Conference (MWAIS) 2026, May, 21-22, 2026, Athens, Ohio, USA, Paper 62.
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