The significance of the Industrial Internet lies in optimizing the basic production modes of industrial equipment, thereby enhancing production efficiency and promoting rapid social development. As the terminal devices that carry the Industrial Internet, whether production line control PLC devices can connect to the network smoothly is crucial for the implementation of the Industrial Internet. Many industrial managers regard PLC device networking as the first step in the Industrial Internet’s implementation.

PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is a digital computing operation electronic system specifically designed for industrial environment applications. Originating in the 1960s in the United States, PLC replaced relay control modules with advantages such as high reliability, easy programming, flexible configuration, comprehensive input/output function modules, convenient installation, and fast operation speed.

Over decades of development, PLCs used in industry today are comparable to or even approaching the performance of compact computer hosts. Their advantages in scalability and reliability have become increasingly prominent, and they are now widely used in various industrial fields.

However, during the widespread application of PLCs and the rapid development of the Industrial Internet, several pain points have emerged that need to be addressed:

• Data Silos: Difficulty in unifying and analyzing data collected from multiple factories.
• Isolated Systems: Different subsystems within a factory are isolated, making unified management challenging.
• Remote Maintenance and Monitoring: Balancing the timeliness of remote maintenance and monitoring with costs is difficult.
• Network Stability: Increasing demand for network stability.

Addressing these issues can significantly reduce costs and increase efficiency in industrial production. In practice, using intelligent networking services combined with industrial 4G routers can provide a good solution to these problems.

For example, an automation equipment distributor specializing in PLC-related devices and solutions recently introduced an IoT solution to achieve remote debugging of PLC devices, meeting post-sales debugging and maintenance needs.

The specific deployment involves connecting PLCs with yeaplink’s SR500 series industrial routers and using intelligent networking services to form a virtual LAN with the company headquarters and field maintenance personnel’s computers, ensuring stable transmission of core sensor data. Remote debugging and maintenance of PLCs can also be conducted through this virtual LAN.

Similarly, we can achieve data interoperability between different factory facilities in multiple locations through networking, enabling coordinated production. The overall advantages of this solution are evident:

• Breaking Data Silos: Enables interoperability between different subsystems within a factory and coordination between multiple factories, facilitating unified production management.
• Remote Access: The SR500 series routers support virtual serial port functions, allowing maintenance personnel to remotely access PLCs through a client, reducing the need for on-site personnel and balancing costs, maintenance timeliness, and effectiveness.

Additionally, the solution offers unique advantages:

• High Compatibility and Flexibility: Easy deployment and immediate use upon networking.
• Secure Data Transmission: Uses cloud virtual LAN technology to provide secure tunnels for confidential information.

At the hardware level, the yeaplink SR500 series routers offer several advantages:

• Easy Deployment: Strong network compatibility, supporting CPE full-netcom, significantly reducing deployment costs.
• High Stability: Dual redundant power input, industrial-grade protection design, and watchdog protection features ensure long-term, high-load operation, real-time transmission of critical data, and prevent heating and distribution failures.
• Convenient Maintenance: Cloud-based management platform allows easy monitoring and maintenance of devices and networking status, ensuring smooth system operation.

By implementing these measures, industrial production can achieve significant cost reduction and efficiency improvement.