About
Why emBRICK?
emBRICK combines in a perfect way the cost-efficient and tailored characteristics of a dedicated embedded system with the ready to use and flexibility of a PLC system.
Mission
Motivation
When emBRICK was developed, the focus was on realizing small and medium-sized control systems as a replacement for a classic PLC, but also for an embedded system.
The mission of emBRICK is to provide an open and free I/O system to
build compact and industrial suited electronic control systems by assembling small existing or custom embedded boards (bricks)
via a SPI-based local interface and optional remote buses (LAN, WLAN, CAN, RSxxx, …).
Advantages
Open & free
open: supplying reference schematics, protocol source code, samples and starter kits
free: also for commercial use in own appliances (for pure EMS with a license fee)
To ensure a high level of acceptance, emBRICK is an open and free system:
- Besides buying existing devices, anyone can develop and produce their own emBRICK components to easily realize their own customized, low-cost, industrial measurement and control system.
- Use a standard and open source hardware/software system like many other platforms do (Rasberry Pi, Beaglebone, Arduino, …).
- After signing the free license agreement, you can get the schematics of several standard boards and the protocol stack software.
- With this you are able to develop and produce custom boards for your own use (also commercial).
- Only mass production EMS (without own application) have to pay a license fee of 1€ per device.
Flexibility
In addition to easy hardware installation, the low-level drivers are generic and provide automatic configuration. This works with many established application programming systems. You can concentrate on your application software.
Adaptability
adaptable to all systems, using common, low cost standard µCs/components
Good value
One-half to one-third the price of traditional control systems (complete system view)
Scalability
scalable local and remote topologies, 1 … >1000 I/Os, up to 1ms update, deterministic
Energy sufficiency
low own power consumption, average 50mW/slave module in operation (outputs inactive)
Range of applications
global and sector specific modules for direct connection of various sensors and actors
Quickly ready for use
easy installation, no configuration necessary, simple plug modules together and use
Programmability
works with/programmable from various established, well-known platforms/languages