一、Overview

If PLCs are the 'cerebellum' of industrial control, then host computer software acts as its 'brain'. Conceptually, the controller and service provider is the host computer, while the controlled and serviced entity is the lower-level device. The host computer typically handles digital signal processing and command issuance, while the lower-level device usually handles analog signal processing and command execution.

The hardware for host computers is generally industrial PCs or industrial control computers. The operating systems running on host computers can typically be Windows, Linux, HarmonyOS, etc., with different OSes chosen based on varying performance requirements. The software running on host computers is usually custom-developed specialized software. Some large manufacturing companies or enterprises often have their own R&D teams, while others choose to outsource the host computer software development.

二、Main Application Industries for Host Computer Software

Host computer software is applied across various industries, especially in manufacturing, logistics and sorting, and instrumentation. It also sees large-scale application in mineral extraction and processing, the chemical industry, food and beverage processing and manufacturing, tobacco logistics, pharmaceutical production, and mechanical equipment manufacturing.

With the continuous upgrade of automation, informatization, and intelligence in the manufacturing industry, and the gradual rise in labor costs for industrial workers, host computer software has progressively become a standard configuration. The continuous development and maturity of technology service industries specifically serving manufacturing are also driving the advancement of host computer software and the intelligence of manufacturing.

三、Main Application Scenarios for Host Computer Software

Control, data acquisition, monitoring, and alarming for automated production lines.
Quality data inspection.
On-site and remote control of instruments and equipment.
Visual inspection scenarios.
Calculation and data acquisition for logistics conveyor lines.
Calculation and data acquisition for measurement and control systems.
Control and data acquisition for medical equipment, etc.

四、Characteristics of Host Computer Software

High Stability Requirements: Software crashes can lead to production halts, causing significant losses, and customers have low tolerance for instability.
High Real-time Requirements: The business operations or data processed by host computer software often have real-time requirements; machines cannot wait for a program to freeze and then recover.
High Robustness Requirements: Some production lines operate 24 hours a day continuously, thus requiring the software to run continuously without interruption.
Ease of Operation and Maintenance: Production environments are not as comfortable as office environments, which imposes higher demands on software operation and maintenance.
Timely Fault Response: In case of a fault, the maintenance team must be able to respond and resolve the issue promptly to prevent greater losses.

五、Technical System for Host Computer Software Development

For host computer software development languages, C++ or C# are generally chosen. Java is less commonly used for desktop applications, as it is more suitable for backend programs. Recently, with the maturity of C#, there has been an increasing trend to develop host computer software using C#. C#'s desktop frameworks include WinForms and WPF.

Traditional host computer software is typically standalone or local area network (LAN) based. However, with the development of the Industrial Internet in recent years and the trend towards highly integrated software information systems in manufacturing, host computer software has gradually begun to connect to networks, integrating with ERP or MES systems, or with other higher-level systems.

The databases used by host computer software are generally selected based on specific requirements. Common traditional relational databases include MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, etc. These databases can be deployed locally on the host computer or on remote servers.

Host Computer Software Development

Develop host computer software based on MATLAB/C++/Qt/C# + motion control/machine vision/industrial bus, etc., with development tailored to specific functional requirements.

Case Study 1: Boiler Industrial PC Temperature Control System

The system integrates technologies such as automated instrumentation, communication technology, and automated data acquisition to achieve intelligent control of boiler temperature, reduce human errors, and effectively ensure production safety and reliability. Developed based on a distributed architecture, it also enables centralized management of multiple devices, effectively improving boiler production efficiency.