Cloud system for Profinet simplifies distributed automation

The new Proficloud system from Phoenix Contact enables easy and secure communication and control of machines and systems across different locations worldwide. The unique combination of the Profinet standard and Proficloud services opens up brand new possibilities for automation.

The system consists of a coupler, the controller, the Proficloud license, and the Proficloud services. Installation is quick and easy: users build their automation network in their usual development environment. The Proficloud coupler is installed locally and is used to connect the local Profinet network to the Proficloud via the Internet. At distributed locations, the Proficloud-capable controllers connect to the cloud via the Internet. The distributed devices now appear as local devices in the Profinet network, without the need for any further configuration or programming. The TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption ensures data security.

The Proficloud provides the option of integrating applications or services developed in-house into the Profinet network via the Internet. This enables weather data to be accessed from the Internet, for example. By entering the latitude and longitude, the system receives current or forecast weather information that is relevant to applications in many industries. Another example is the Proficloud “Cloud Service Calc” service (for calculations). This service outsources complex computer operations to the cloud. Programming effort is reduced considerably and some calculations that were previously too complex can now be performed.