Programming Industrial Control Systems Using IEC 1131-3

The programming logic controller (PLC) is the device at the heart of most automated control systems and instrumentation in industrial practice. Many computer languages have been used to write these programs in the past, with the result that PLCs from different manufacturers are generally incompatible, and make linked application systems extremely complicated. The standards body the International Electrotechnical Commission published standard IEC 1131-3 in December 1993 in order to progress towards a compatible environment. This guide acts as a tutorial to the IEC 1131-3 standard. It describes the languages and concepts, and interprets meanings for practical implementation and application.