Design and Development of Portable Supervisory Unit and Programmable Automation Controller (PUSPAC)

This paper presents the design and development of an innovative industrial automation device named as "Portable Supervisory Unit and Programmable Automation Control (PUSPAC)" which works as a RTU (Remote Terminal Unit) and also as a PAC (Programmable Automation Controller). Typically, popular industrial automation systems like SCADA are implemented in larger industries over a robust network of various control, network, and peripheral devices. In some setups a compact standalone PLC like system 'PAC' is also used which includes the control, communication, and interface elements in a single device. The PUSPAC device gives the flexibility to use it with a remote MTU/computer or with implementation of local control logic through high-level programming languages. Though these automation devices are functionally similar across vendors, most of the commercial ones do not talk much about their hardware as well as software implementation. The PUSPAC is a modular platform for the students and researchers to learn and develop various industrial automation applications and protocols. The resources required for a typical automation setup is available in a single portable device along with the required software support.