New PLC IDE version 1.1.0 brings remote lifecycle management to Opta!

Since its launch in December 2022, the (free!) Arduino PLC IDE was designed to make automation easier, faster, and more approachable for engineers in any industry. Now in its 1.1.0 version, we are proud to say it is taking another leap forward in this direction! 

What is the Arduino PLC IDE?

For anyone new to the Arduino ecosystem, the PLC IDE is an integrated development environment that we rolled out to allow users to ?program and control Arduino programmable logic controllers (PLCs) Portenta Machine Control and Opta. It is free to download, and supports both Arduino sketches and the five IEC 61131-3 standard languages: Ladder Diagram, Functional Block Diagram, Structured Text, Sequential Function Chart, and Instruction List.

What’s new?

The new release brings several new features that improve the overall user experience. Here’s just a taste:

• The PLC runtime now exposes a single COM port as default, making it easier for the PLC IDE to detect and connect to the Opta. The debug through the second COM is still available for expert users.
• Over-the-air updates can be performed via Modbus TCP over an Ethernet connection, even through VPNs. This feature allows the update of the complete program, both the PLC runtime and the Arduino Sketch and the PLC runtime, guaranteeing all the system components are fully aligned.

(More details are available on the official release note here).

^{The new configuration interface for OTA over Modbus TCP and support for the open-source OSCAT library.}

A major milestone for Opta

Arduino PLC IDE v1.1.0 enables remote lifecycle management and aligns Opta with standard practices in industrial automation. It’s a game changer for machine builders and industrial automation companies operating and maintaining devices deployed in the field! 

Now, Opta-based control systems can be installed across multiple customer sites knowing that any PLC program changes, runtime updates, and sketches can be implemented from the office, remotely via Ethernet. This makes maintenance faster and more cost-efficient, reducing disruption and downtime, allowing Opta to fit naturally into existing industrial operations and support workflows.

Ready to try it?

Download the new Arduino PLC IDE v1.1.0 here! If you need any support, check out the documentation or ask the community in the dedicated Arduino Forum.