In the early years of industrial process control, industrial devices (sensors and actuators) were individually connected to a programmable logic controller using dedicated wires that carried analog (4-20mA) current signals. However, the number of required inputs and outputs increased as processes became more complex, making cable routing complicated and unwieldy and fault debugging increasingly tricky.

Gothenburg, Sweden. RT-Labs launched its U-Phy software-centric solution for utilizing Fieldbus industrial communication protocol using Profinet and EtherCAT on open hardware devices. Included is a modifiable application programming interface (API) and the ability to target code for differing communication protocols.