Overturning the traditional DCS architecture | Zhongkong Technology unveils Nyx, the world’s first universal control system

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Singapore and Hangzhou, June 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 5, 2024, Inovance Technology introduced the Universal Control System (UCS), a groundbreaking control system for the global automation industry. The introduction of UCS not only revolutionized the concept of industrial control systems in a groundbreaking manner, but it also marked the beginning of an era-defining revolution in automatic control technology. Returning to the essence of control: computation, connectivity, and perception. An innovative approach has been developed for the UCS architecture of universal control systems, which overcomes the limitations of existing systems such as their closed, specialized design, rigid hierarchical structure, and limited computing power. This approach introduces a new technical architecture for universal control systems of the next generation, creating software-defined, fully digital, cloud-native control systems. It completely overturns the technical architecture of traditional distributed control systems that have been in use for nearly 50 years, breaking free from the constraints imposed by conventional physical controllers, I/O modules, and cabinet setups. In this new paradigm, data centers, all-optical deterministic networks, and smart devices can be managed in a much simpler manner, eliminating the need for hundreds of control cabinets and driving revolutionary innovation in control systems. Nyx, the world’s first universal control system product, has been officially launched. Control technologies used to manage data centers, all-optical deterministic networks, and smart devices constitute a streamlined new form of control system, featuring typical characteristics such as software-defined architecture, full digitalization, and cloud-native design. Controlling data centers is the core of the Nyx system; it builds a real-time control task execution environment with high realism, reliability, and security, based on NyxOS – a cloud-based real-time operating system designed specifically for industrial real-time control. The Nyx system can run cloud-native real-time applications, automatically adjusting the scale and capacity of resources based on demand to achieve elasticity and scalability ； Thanks to a redundant and distributed architecture, the control system ensures high availability and fault tolerance. Nyx utilizes an all-optical industrial network, enabling intelligent field data to be transmitted to the control data center at 10 Gbps via parallel redundancy, thus creating a streamlined network architecture that saves over 90% on cables and space. Nyx utilizes APL-based field connection technology, featuring field connection boxes and APL modules that comply with Zone 2 intrinsically safe explosion protection standards. This enables the IPization of instruments, increases the communication speed by over 100 times, promotes fully digital field sensing and actuation, and facilitates the interconnection of data in smart factories. Adhering to the principles of co-creation, sharing, and mutual growth, Zhongkong Technology is committed to building an Ethernet-APL ecosystem, offering a full range of APL products including power switches, field switches, and smart meters. Nyx enables significant cost reductions; its streamlined architecture reduces cabinet space by 90%, cuts cable costs by 80%, and shortens the installation time by 50%. Integrating AI technology: unlocking unlimited industrial application potential. Nyx’s industrial applications will bring significant value to process industries. Through pilot applications, Zhongkong Technology has discovered that Nyx can be integrated seamlessly with AI technologies. Thanks to its control engine powered by GPUs, it offers functions such as automatic configuration generation and AI-enhanced PID control, enabling data prediction and adaptive control thereby improving the efficiency of device operation. It thus paves the way for a new era of \"artificial intelligence\" in the field of control and helps liberate production capabilities. Enhance industrial intelligence and embrace endless possibilities. In recent years, Zhongkong Technology has actively explored the integration and application of advanced technologies such as AI in the process industry. The emergence of Nyx not only marks a revolutionary breakthrough for Zhongkong Technology in the field of intelligent control, but also serves as a powerful tool for driving transformation in the industrial sector! Amid the accelerating pace of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, Zhongkong Technology also hopes that more ecosystem partners will join this transformative effort, working together to steer the industry toward a future that is more intelligent, efficient, and sustainable! Source: Zhongkong Technology