Schneider Electric Joins UniversalAutomation.org to Create New Era of Plug and Play Automation

Schneider Electric Logo 1 400

November 11, 2021

 

Schneider Electric has joined other industrial leaders and pioneers to form UniversalAutomation.Org (UAO), an independent, not-for-profit association managing the reference implementation of a shared source runtime. For the first time, IT and OT software vendors, industrial end users, OEMs, and academics will share a common automation software layer across their automation technology — regardless of brand.

UniversalAutomation.org will drive the development of a vendor-agnostic ecosystem of portable and interoperable “plug and produce” software that can run with almost any hardware. By decoupling software and hardware, sharing a reference runtime implementation of the IEC 61499 standard, and merging the information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) worlds, the organization seeks to create an entirely new category of industrial automation and unleash the full potential of Industry 4.0.

“UniversalAutomation.org is the beginning of a new era for industrial automation,” said Dr. Barbara Frei, Executive Vice President, Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric. “Current architectures have done a great job of advancing industry to where we are now, but to reach next-generation sustainability, innovation, and agility, we must embrace portable and interoperable software. Doing so requires a reimagining of our current systems and processes, and collaboration on a new scale, which the UniversalAutomation.org members have agreed to do.” 

Organizations involved in UniversalAutomation.org include: Aalto University, Advantech, Asus, Belden, Cargill, eaw Relaistechnik GmbH, ESA, ETP, Flexbridge, Georgia-Pacific, GR3N, Hirschmann, HTW Berlin, Intel, Jetter, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Kongsberg Maritime, Lawrence Technological University, Lumberg Automation, Phoenix Contact, ProSoft, R. Stahl, Shell, VP Process, Wilo, Wood and Yokogawa. Others are expected to join soon, with the organization actively recruiting new members.

Members will work together to develop and adopt the next generation of universal automation solutions by collectively incrementing the runtime following shared source principles. Members will have access and the ability to shape the next generation of automation. All entities looking to help advance industrial automation are encouraged to join.

“Industrial operations are undergoing a total transformation,” said John Conway, President of UniversalAutomation.org. “As the IT sector has proven, advances in machine learning, augmented reality, real-time analytics, and the IoT hold great promise for step change advancements in performance, agility, and sustainability. However, within industry this promise is being held back by closed and proprietary automation platforms that restrict widespread adoption, hamper innovation, are challenging to integrate with third-party components, and are expensive to upgrade and maintain. Using a shared runtime changes all that.”

Portability is already a reality in other market sectors. For example, mobile applications are developed to run across different smartphone vendors, enabling rapid advances through collective innovation. Until now, the industrial world has worked differently, with closed proprietary architectures and hardware-dependent software. 

Greg Boucaud, Chief Marketing Officer of UniversalAutomation.Org commented: “UniversalAutomation.org is hitting the reset button on automation technology. Using the IEC 61499 standard for distributed systems, we can create a new, open industrial environment that will lead to a more sustainable, efficient future. UniversalAutomation.org will remove the barriers to innovation in automation by decoupling hardware and software and providing end users with the freedom they have been asking for — to easily integrate different technologies regardless of where they came from and fully optimize their automation systems.”

 

For more information, click here 

 

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Promise Robotics Transforms Automation in Homebuilding with Next-Gen Control Platform

    April 16, 2025 The AI-powered robotic system enables homebuilders to build more homes faster with less resources using flexible automation and distributed drive technology from Beckhoff Imagine a world where affordable, sustainable housing isn’t a dream, but a reality. This vision faces two significant hurdles: skyrocketing construction costs and a shortage of skilled labour. These… Read More…

  • How Omron Light Curtains Improve Machine Safety Compliance in Canada

    April 16, 2025 In Canadian industrial environments, safeguarding workers and ensuring machine safety compliance is both a regulatory requirement and a productivity necessity. At Proax, as an authorized distributor of Omron, they offer safety solutions engineered to meet and exceed modern compliance standards — including the CSA Z432 and Z434 requirements unique to Canada. Among these solutions, Omron’s Safety… Read More…


Featured Article

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

In today’s fast-paced manufacturing and logistics industries, the need for efficient and flexible material movement solutions has never been greater. Traditional methods like conveyor systems, forklifts, and manual pushcarts have served us well, but they come with limitations.

That’s why Omron is thrilled to announce the launch of their game-changing MD Series of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). Read more


Products

  • New From SEW-EURODRIVE: WES Series Stainless Steel Drives

    April 22, 2025 New From SEW-EURODRIVE: WES Series Stainless Steel Drives SEW-EURODRIVE is proud to introduce the WES Series stainless steel gear unit, a compact, hygienic drive solution that runs cool – even under continuous operation. Unlike worm gear units that overheat, the WES Series integrates SPIROPLAN® right-angle gearing, ensuring smooth, reliable performance without excessive… Read More…

  • Kollmorgen Introduces New High-Voltage IC Ironcore DDL Direct Drive Linear Motor

    April 22, 2025 Kollmorgen Corporation, a global leader in motion control and automation systems, has introduced an addition to its IC Ironcore DDL motor family, expanding beyond 230 VAC products with a new capability to support 400/480 VAC-powered applications. Kollmorgen’s new direct drive linear motor delivers a continuous force range up to 8,211 N and peak… Read More…