New FireWire standard targets industrial applications

Thanks to the increasing performance of CPUs and programmable logic controllers (PLCs), today's automation systems can be realized using a number of decentralized modules. While global functions such as module parameter setup and network management are performed by industrial PCs, such tasks may also be assigned to control modules such as PLCs. In addition, these automation systems also include graphical user interfaces for system control and monitoring, as well as image-acquisition and processing capability.

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