Re-Purposed Smartphone Based Automation Control System

PLC is a computer with input/output connections (I/O) which has been adapted for the control of manufacturing processes, such as assembly lines, or robotic devices, or any activity that requires high reliability control and ease of programming and process fault diagnosis. At Alp, we have implemented an automation control system for our hybrid micro biomass power plant prototype without PLCs. Instead, it relies on a smartphone compatible system to perform mechanical processes at the industrial level. There are 2.1B smartphone users in the world and over 1 billion functional smartphones are replaced every year. UN Environment Programme says e-waste such as smartphones will top 50m tonnes per year. Smartphones have the right balance of hardware and software for computational processing and communication functions typically performed by Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). More and more, they have the reliabilty and ruggedness required for industrial applications such tolerance of high dust, moitsure, temperature and even impact. Their data communication capabilities are often superior to even high-end PLCs. Moreover, a parallel system can be formed by linking multiple units for industrial redundancy in backup and safety functions.