Abstract: A platform for actuation of at least one industrial field device in an industrial installation having control software includes: an execution environment, in which the control software is runnable; and an external interface for communicating between the control software and the at least one industrial field device. The execution environment has virtual hardware which, from a point of view of the control software, behaves in a manner of the at least one industrial field device. A switching unit is connected between the virtual hardware and the external interface. The switching unit bidirectionally translates data, interchanged between the control software and the virtual hardware, for communication with the at least one industrial field device via the external interface.

Abstract: A platform for actuation of at least one industrial field device in an industrial installation having control software includes: an execution environment, in which the control software is runnable; and an external interface for communicating between the control software and the at least one industrial field device. The execution environment has virtual hardware which, from a point of view of the control software, behaves in a manner of the at least one industrial field device. A switching unit is connected between the virtual hardware and the external interface. The switching unit bidirectionally translates data, interchanged between the control software and the virtual hardware, for communication with the at least one industrial field device via the external interface.

Abstract: A programmable logic controller for at least one field device in an industrial facility includes: a hardware platform on which an operating system runs, the operating system executing, in at least one process, at least one execution environment in which a control software containing the control logic of the programmable logic controller is runnable, the hardware platform including a main memory, a processor power, and communication resources; and a higher-level management system for running directly on the operating system and executing one or more execution environments in each case in its own sandbox, the management system including a resource manager for allocating to each sandbox access to the main memory, the processor power, and the communication resources of the hardware platform.