Linux®-based real-time control with TwinCAT
With the TwinCAT Runtime for Linux®, Beckhoff is opening up new application possibilities for real-time control. In the future, several TwinCAT Runtimes will be able to be executed on a single industrial PC for the first time, enabling users to combine different system parts on one large computer, for example. With this hardware consolidation, computing resources are better utilized. Virtual control technology, i.e. a Virtual PLC, can also be implemented on a server PC with the containerized version of TwinCAT. Furthermore, accessing a GPU (graphics card) from the real-time environment will be possible. The GPU is then used as a hardware accelerator for particularly computing-intensive applications such as vision.
TwinCAT Runtime for Linux® is based on Beckhoff's own Linux® distribution, which expands the choice of operating systems in addition to Windows and TwinCAT/BSD. The distribution was developed using the free Debian operating system and includes a Linux® real-time kernel as standard for real-time execution of the runtime. The Debian package system also makes it easy to install additional software. Initially, the new CX82x0 and CX9240 Arm®-based Embedded PCs will be offered with Linux® runtime. The Beckhoff Linux® distribution will then be successively rolled out for all other industrial and embedded PCs.
Features
- TwinCAT Runtime for stable real-time control based on Linux®
- modularization of machine and other control applications
- support for container technology such as Docker®, Podman, or LXC
- individual execution of several TwinCAT Runtimes on a single industrial PC
- hardware consolidation through improved utilization of computing capacity
- freer coupling of software and machine modules
- Multi-tasking capable operating system facilitates software modularization.
Advantages for real-time control
- new options in TwinCAT automation for Linux® users
- unchanged application programming with TwinCAT
- optimized execution of multiple real-time applications using one CPU
- increased user flexibility through modular control code
- easy to add or replace application modules
- targeted implementation of updates for individual applications
- reduced work and costs for engineering
- Product status
- product announcement | estimated market release 3rd quarter 2025
Produkte
CX8200 Embedded PC series
The embedded PC series combines higher computing power and modern Arm® Cortex®-A53 architecture in a compact format.
CX9240 Embedded PC series
The compact, DIN rail mountable PC controller for universal use with modern Arm® Cortex®-A53 architecture.
CX5300 Embedded PC series
The CX5300 Embedded PCs supplement the CX5200 series with significantly more powerful processors from the Intel Atom® x6 series.
Virtual PLC
With TwinCAT Runtime for Linux®, Beckhoff provides the implementation of a virtual PLC – flexible, cost-optimized and resource-efficient.