Siemens is presenting the new version of the logic module series Logo! for the first time at Hannover Messe 2020: The latest Logo! Version 8.3 will be available from Fall 2020 and features a direct cloud connection. The Logo! Soft Comfort engineering software is getting a functional update to enable configuration of the new devices. With Version 8.3, it is possible to activate and configure the cloud connection and use the new free Logo! web editor to create user-defined website and dashboards in the cloud. Users can also design their automation projects and operate them from the cloud via smartphone, tablet or PC.
The webserver can be directly hosted in the cloud, enabling individual visualization and centralized control of switching and automation solutions in building management systems, and in the construction of control cabinets, machines and apparatus – comfortably, regardless of the location. Users now have even more options for simple networking.
Through the encrypted connection from the cloud to Logo! 8.3 via the TLS protocol, a secure data transfer is carried out in both directions, i.e. read and write.
The cloud connectivity of the new logic modules represents a paradigm shift. Whereas previously the Logo! had to be interrupted for data handling or acquisition purposes, real-time access in the cloud makes it possible to access all data during operation. At the first level, Logo! 8.3 enables Amazon Web Services (AWS) to be connected to the cloud. And there are plans for more connections, such as to MindSphere, the Siemens cloud-based, open IoT operating system, and Alibaba.
Thanks to the multiple interfacing options such as Modbus TCP/IP, Konnex bus (KNX) and Ethernet, Logo! 8.3 can also be used as a cloud gateway for existing systems. This enables data to be exported to the cloud, for example, because memory space in the controller is limited. In this way, the entire data of smaller automation projects is available in the cloud for further processing and analysis, resulting in new possibilities for the automation engineer to record and evaluate energy data, carry out predictive maintenance or implement flexible service concepts.