Siemens Integrates Safety and Control into PC Software

According to Siemens, Simatic WinAC RTX F is industry’s first PC-based control software with integrated safety functions, eliminating the cost for a separate safety-rated controller. Using a standard Dual-Core Windows XP PC, the software allows standard control logic, as well as office applications, to run on the same PC with safety-rated logic, reducing integration time and cost.

Scalable for standard PCs or WinXP-Embedded PCs, the control software is available for a wide range of process and discrete automation applications. The TUV-certified software complies with EN 954-1 to Cat. 4, IEC 62061 to SIL 3 and EN ISO 13849-1 up to PL e-safety standards. The software’s runtime kernel, programmed specifically for safety logic, runs in parallel to other PC-based applications for standard logic control functions or other tasks. The software is also isolated from any system lock-up or operating system crash. Strict compatibility with Dual-Core based x86 PC systems enable the software to run all safety-rated automation tasks without interruption, says Siemens.