Learn about two new I/O modules just announced for the groov EPIC controller.

Two highly anticipated groov EPIC modules are here: the 3-phase power monitoring module with 64 channels of data (!), and the highly flexible, software-configurable multifunction, multi-signal module. These new modules can take your system to another level of efficiency and another step closer to your digital transformation goals.

Are you looking to lower your energy spend, avoid equipment failure, and reduce carbon emissions? These latest I/O offerings allow engineers to bring energy, performance, and machine health data directly from the edge into backend systems, for old and new equipment alike, aiming to reduce complexity, cost, and timelines.

Let's take a closer look at these new I/O options: 

Newly added in EPIC firmware 3.3.1 : manage unsecured devices on-prem or at remote sites through secure, on-demand connections.

Last week in the OptoBlog, Ben Orchard shared an overview of what's included in the latest groov EPIC firmware update 3.3.1. One of the highlights was a new networking tool: Port Redirect.

If you've updated to 3.3.1 and you're itching to try this new feature out, here's a step-by-step outline on how it works on a groov EPIC (GRV-EPIC-PR1 or GRV-EPIC-PR2).

Opto 22's updated technical note helps current SNAP PAC users decide if, when, and how to migrate to the newer groov EPIC system.

Opto 22 customers have been relying on the SNAP PAC system for their controls and automation applications for almost 15 years. But now you keep hearing about the new technology of the groov EPIC system.

How is it different?

Should you make the switch?

What would be the benefits of upgrading, and what issues would arise from making the change?

Several highly requested features have been added to the latest firmware update for groov EPIC PR1 and PR2.

Even with the Covid pandemic lingering on, our mostly remote team of software engineers at Opto 22 have been hard at work. As a result, we have a groov EPIC firmware update that addresses a bunch of requested features, and like any software update, some bug fixes as well.

Simply known as version 3.3.1, you can freely download and take advantage of these improvements right away.

Let's take a look at what's new...

A recent webinar hosted by the Eclipse Foundation highlights the power of MQTT with Sparkplug in industrial automation applications.

As a member of the Eclipse Foundation's Sparkplug Working Group, Opto 22 was invited to participate in a webinar with fellow group members to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Sparkplug protocol.

Sparkplug is ready to transform the automation industry by making MQTT infrastructure interoperable, out of the box. Watch and learn from case study examples how this technology can make digital transformation a reality.

Watch the "CODESYS in the field" presentation from the Fall 2021 CODESYS Tech Talk.

In case you missed the Fall CODESYS Tech Talk virtual event, we have an important session to share with you. As an experienced Opto 22 user and engineer, Jared Bates from Rust Automation & Controls joined us to present a current water/wastewater application that uses the CODESYS runtime engine on groov EPIC.

Security certificates are critical tools for designing cybersecure automation systems, and they're easier to set up on your groov devices than you might think.

Have you ever seen a warning message from your browser telling you a connection is untrusted and asking if you want to proceed anyway? If you're connecting to groov Manage, then the connection this message refers to is actually your groov EPIC or RIO!

But what if I told you that in a few simple steps you can prove to browsers and other connected systems that network communications to your groov devices are secure, encrypted, and protecting your automation assets?

Watch and learn what it means to have a secure industrial controls system.

Industrial automation has long been known to carry cybersecurity vulnerabilities at the levels of both technology and practice. Legacy PLCs weren’t designed for connections to untrusted LANs or the internet, and the old password-on-a-sticky-note security policy just doesn’t cut it anymore. So, what's the solution?

ICC 2021 Discover Gallery finalist, Perceptive Controls, talks about their continued success with the Waterford, MI Department of Public Works

In February of this year, we looked at a pioneering MQTT Sparkplug project at the Department of Public Works in Waterford Township, Michigan. Thanks to the work of system integrator Perceptive Controls, Waterford’s project went on to become a finalist in the 2021 Ignition Community Conference Discover Gallery and was showcased in the latest Sparkplug Working Group virtual meetup. Recently, I followed up with Kevin Finkler, software engineer at Perceptive, to talk about using MQTT in the real world.

Opto 22's YouTube channel is growing with more videos and subscribers.

What started several years ago as a platform to host a few Opto 22 product videos has now reached a new milestone. The Opto 22 YouTube channel recently reached 2 million views and is closing in on 20,000 subscribers.

Whether you're new to the industrial automation industry, or are looking for specific developer tips on using MQTT or Node-RED, the OptoVideo channel is your one stop for all things automation and digital transformation.