UAO Goes Live: The Future of Automation

Episode 16: Smart Process Control in Action - J&W & DeNora

In this episode of UAO Goes Live, J&W shares a real process‑control implementation for DeNora using UAO technology. From P&ID and cause‑and‑effect matrices to modular function blocks and HMI symbols, the team implements PID loops, hysteresis control, and multi‑step sequences for electrochlorination and water electrolysis. The solution runs on M580 and SoftDPAC with OPC UA to external historians, showing how event‑driven engineering improves modularity, maintainability, and portability—supporting Open Software Defined Automation. About UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) [http://UniversalAutomation.org] UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] (UAO) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to transforming industrial automation through open standards and shared source technology. The association manages the reference implementation of a shared runtime execution engine based on the IEC 61499 standard, enabling true interoperability between hardware from multiple vendors and portability of automation software applications. By providing a ready-to-use, vendor-neutral runtime environment, UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] empowers companies to build flexible Industry 4.0 architectures, accelerate digital transformation, and maximize return on investment (ROI) through software reusability and hardware independence. The development of this runtime is governed by shared source principles, ensuring long-term compatibility and collaborative innovation. Members—including end users, OEMs, system integrators, and technology vendors—work collectively to create a global ecosystem for plug-and-produce automation solutions. UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] is growing rapidly as more organizations adopt open automation to overcome vendor lock-in, enable IT/OT convergence, and support greenfield and brownfield projects. Academic institutions are also leveraging this technology to train the next generation of automation engineers. Companies and institutions that want to lead the future of industrial automation, develop next-generation control systems, and participate in a global open automation community are invited to join UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org]. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

Episode 15: Scalable Industrial Control with GR3N & Barbara

In this episode of UAO Goes Live, GR3N and Barbara show how UAO technology and edge orchestration enable secure, large‑scale deployments. We explore microwave‑assisted depolymerization as a sustainability use case, then quantify the challenge of operating many apps per device across many plants, and how Barbara OS and the Barbara Panel provide remote deployment, CI/CD, high availability, and VPN‑based remote engineering for EcoStruxure Automation Expert. The result is faster rollouts, fewer human errors, and a practical blueprint for interoperable, portable automation that advances Open Software Defined Automation. About UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) [http://UniversalAutomation.org] UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] (UAO) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to transforming industrial automation through open standards and shared source technology. The association manages the reference implementation of a shared runtime execution engine based on the IEC 61499 standard, enabling true interoperability between hardware from multiple vendors and portability of automation software applications. By providing a ready-to-use, vendor-neutral runtime environment, UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] empowers companies to build flexible Industry 4.0 architectures, accelerate digital transformation, and maximize return on investment (ROI) through software reusability and hardware independence. The development of this runtime is governed by shared source principles, ensuring long-term compatibility and collaborative innovation. Members—including end users, OEMs, system integrators, and technology vendors—work collectively to create a global ecosystem for plug-and-produce automation solutions. UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] is growing rapidly as more organizations adopt open automation to overcome vendor lock-in, enable IT/OT convergence, and support greenfield and brownfield projects. Academic institutions are also leveraging this technology to train the next generation of automation engineers. Companies and institutions that want to lead the future of industrial automation, develop next-generation control systems, and participate in a global open automation community are invited to join UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org]. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

Episode 14: Introducing the IEC 61499 AI Service Platform - Part 2

In this episode of UAO Goes Live, Luleå University of Technology demonstrates how AI agents collaborate with UAO technology using a skill‑based approach. The session covers natural‑language interaction with machines, OPC UA execution of skills, human‑in‑the‑loop safeguards, and a configurable agent platform that lets engineers build their own agents for digital twins and real equipment. Live demos include a processing station (test, drill, rotate) and a distributing station (pick/place) to show planning, feedback, and dynamic sequencing—supporting interoperable, portable applications and Open Software Defined Automation. About UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) [http://UniversalAutomation.org] UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] (UAO) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to transforming industrial automation through open standards and shared source technology. The association manages the reference implementation of a shared runtime execution engine based on the IEC 61499 standard, enabling true interoperability between hardware from multiple vendors and portability of automation software applications. By providing a ready-to-use, vendor-neutral runtime environment, UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] empowers companies to build flexible Industry 4.0 architectures, accelerate digital transformation, and maximize return on investment (ROI) through software reusability and hardware independence. The development of this runtime is governed by shared source principles, ensuring long-term compatibility and collaborative innovation. Members—including end users, OEMs, system integrators, and technology vendors—work collectively to create a global ecosystem for plug-and-produce automation solutions. UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] is growing rapidly as more organizations adopt open automation to overcome vendor lock-in, enable IT/OT convergence, and support greenfield and brownfield projects. Academic institutions are also leveraging this technology to train the next generation of automation engineers. Companies and institutions that want to lead the future of industrial automation, develop next-generation control systems, and participate in a global open automation community are invited to join UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org]. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

Episode 13: Introducing the IEC 61499 AI Service Platform - Part 1

In this episode of UAO Goes Live, Professor Valeriy Vyatkin and the FlexBridge team from Luleå University of Technology introduce an IEC 61499 AI Service Platform and a Function Block Assistant that turns natural‑language requirements into executable state machines. The conversation shows how engineers define inputs and outputs, iterate on behavior, simulate via a soft PLC, and auto‑generate function blocks for EcoStruxure Automation Expert. Examples include a pneumatic cylinder and a pick‑and‑place manipulator, illustrating faster engineering cycles, collaborative refinement, and a practical path to interoperable, portable applications that advance Open Software Defined Automation and IT/OT convergence. About UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) [http://UniversalAutomation.org] UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] (UAO) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to transforming industrial automation through open standards and shared source technology. The association manages the reference implementation of a shared runtime execution engine based on the IEC 61499 standard, enabling true interoperability between hardware from multiple vendors and portability of automation software applications. By providing a ready-to-use, vendor-neutral runtime environment, UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] empowers companies to build flexible Industry 4.0 architectures, accelerate digital transformation, and maximize return on investment (ROI) through software reusability and hardware independence. The development of this runtime is governed by shared source principles, ensuring long-term compatibility and collaborative innovation. Members—including end users, OEMs, system integrators, and technology vendors—work collectively to create a global ecosystem for plug-and-produce automation solutions. UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] is growing rapidly as more organizations adopt open automation to overcome vendor lock-in, enable IT/OT convergence, and support greenfield and brownfield projects. Academic institutions are also leveraging this technology to train the next generation of automation engineers. Companies and institutions that want to lead the future of industrial automation, develop next-generation control systems, and participate in a global open automation community are invited to join UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org]. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

Episode 12: UAO Runtime on Penguin Solutions Fault Tolerant Compute Platforms

In this episode of UAO Goes Live, Penguin Solutions explains how fault‑tolerant and high‑availability compute platforms help run UAO technology at scale on the edge. The discussion covers ZTC Edge for rugged environments and ZTC Endurance for dense workloads, the difference between high availability and fault tolerance, and per‑VM protection choices. You will hear how virtualization with Penguin Solutions Redundant Linux, APIs for orchestration, predictive monitoring, and automatic “reduplexing” support zero‑touch operations and rapid recovery—without interrupting control applications. The result is interoperable, portable, hardware‑independent automation that advances Open Software Defined Automation and IT/OT convergence. About UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) [http://UniversalAutomation.org] UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] (UAO) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to transforming industrial automation through open standards and shared source technology. The association manages the reference implementation of a shared runtime execution engine based on the IEC 61499 standard, enabling true interoperability between hardware from multiple vendors and portability of automation software applications. By providing a ready-to-use, vendor-neutral runtime environment, UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] empowers companies to build flexible Industry 4.0 architectures, accelerate digital transformation, and maximize return on investment (ROI) through software reusability and hardware independence. The development of this runtime is governed by shared source principles, ensuring long-term compatibility and collaborative innovation. Members—including end users, OEMs, system integrators, and technology vendors—work collectively to create a global ecosystem for plug-and-produce automation solutions. UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org] is growing rapidly as more organizations adopt open automation to overcome vendor lock-in, enable IT/OT convergence, and support greenfield and brownfield projects. Academic institutions are also leveraging this technology to train the next generation of automation engineers. Companies and institutions that want to lead the future of industrial automation, develop next-generation control systems, and participate in a global open automation community are invited to join UniversalAutomation.org [http://UniversalAutomation.org]. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.