ASK THE EXPERT: Implications For Next-Generation Distributed I/O

Distributed I/O or remote I/O — how do they differ when it comes to PLC communication, digital twin integration, and industrial cybersecurity? And how are they evolving to deliver improved performance and security? This Ask the Expert includes insights from Schneider Electric senior offer manager Grant Van Hemert, an authority on data and PLC communication and next-generation distributed I/O technologies like Schneider Electric Edge I/O.

Read the full ATE to learn:

• How do distributed I/O, local I/O, extended I/O, and remote I/O differ? These definitions are not consistently used in the industry, and Van Hemert offers clarity.
• What components are part of a distributed I/O or remote I/O solution? The components help distinguish between the two and have implications for vendor lock-in.
• How does next-generation distribute I/O support digital twin integration with energy processes? What challenges do energy executives struggle with when dealing with legacy hardware? And what industrial cybersecurity lesson does the story of Lawrence of Arabia hold for those specifying distributed I/O solutions?
• How can next-generation distributed I/O prevent disruptions caused by shortages of electronics components in light of the recent semiconductor shortage?