Controllers

 

Blue Button's Chameleon netPLC CNTRLR_C1 Controller is the completely redesigned flagship netPLC Controller (replacing the RP2040 Controller). It incorporates a 150MHz dual core RP2350 providing a full suite of communications features (Ethernet, WiFi, and LoRa), an micro SD card socket and a dedicated HMI (Human Machine Interface uart), AI ready uart and an undedicated AUX uart. A second microcontroller (RP2040) provides intelligent ADC, DAC, high current drivers and GPIO.  

netPLC controllers can be linked directly to up to 31 Extender modules up to 1000 feet (300m) away via the highly reliable high speed RS485 system connector. Any expanded IO using I2C or SPI has inches of range at best, and does not have a closed loop interface - essential for mission critical industrial use.

netPLC Controllers are compatible with the Arduino IDE and other development platforms. The redesign of the netPLC series primarily meant the removal of I2C based port expanders and replacing them with microcontrollers.  All netPLC now use direct RP2040 microcontroller pins for all IO functions. This allows a fully object oriented architecture with every IO pin seen as a software object, and IO activity 'Events' made known to the user's application code, virtually eliminating polling. 

Blue Button is currently developing a netPLC management system that will allow a totally secure way to download upgrades of the preprogrammed Extender Modules, and user control programs to any system's netPLC Controller module. Currently updates are effected using an SD card, or directly during development via the USB programming connector.

The CNTRLR_C1 is suitable for most automation but in the future Blue Button might release Motor Control version of this controller with very limited comms due to space or other IO.  Firstly we will be releasing 6 Channel Stepper Extender module, with internal stepper drivers and coordinated motion, as most applications will require the comms provided by the CNTRLR_C1.