Tech & Buying Guide

Traditional industrial automation relies heavily on dedicated input-output (IO) modules. In a standard distributed control system (DCS) or programmable logic controller (PLC) setup, design engineers assign specific cards to distinct signal types. For instance, a traditional 16-channel digital input (DI) card exclusively processes digital signals. However, engineering projects frequently encounter last-minute changes in signal counts. Therefore, discovering a missing analog input (AI) channel late in the design phase forces engineers to purchase and install an entirely new, dedicated AI card. Consequently, this rigidity drives up hardware expenses, wastes cabinet space, and delays commissioning schedules.