When the rugged backbone of industrial control meets the world’s leading automation programming software, a revolution that redefines edge intelligence is underway.
At the critical juncture where industrial automation is rapidly moving toward deep integration of “AI edge computing + real-time control,” Shenzhen BLIIoT Technology Co., Ltd. (BLIIoT) has formed a strategic partnership with the global industrial software giant CODESYS Group. Under this collaboration, the entire ARMxy series embedded controllers from BLIIoT fully support the CODESYS runtime system. Simultaneously, BLIIoT officially launches its full EdgePLC industrial AI edge controller product line, including the high-performance BL245 series and the compact BL237 series. With a strategic positioning of “control-computing convergence,” BLIIoT provides a truly intelligent edge solution for global smart manufacturing.
The next decade of industrial control is already taking shape at the edge.
The 2026 Hanover Messe clearly demonstrated the latest trend in industrial AI: AI is no longer just a software tool that assists optimization decisions; it is entering factory floors, logistics systems, and production lines, transforming into visible, actionable productivity in tasks such as handling, assembly, inspection, and grasping. Industrial AI is evolving from “analyzing” to “acting.”
Industry data confirms this trend. According to Stratistics MRC, the global industrial automation edge AI market is expected to grow from USD 3.04 billion in 2025 to USD 13.78 billion by 2032. However, behind this huge opportunity lie significant pain points. Traditional PLCs, though proven in stability, lack the computing power for intelligent tasks like AI vision inspection and real-time data analysis. On the other hand, general-purpose industrial computers, while powerful, struggle to meet the millisecond-level real-time response and high reliability required for control applications. The “gap” between these two is the biggest obstacle to industrial AI deployment.
It is against this backdrop that BLIIoT’s EdgePLC series of industrial AI edge controllers emerged, breaking down the barrier between IT and OT with the concept of “control-computing convergence.”
Breakthrough 1: Robust hardware base – true control-computing integration
Built around an “ARMxy high-performance processor + distributed I/O expansion” architecture, the BLIIoT EdgePLC deeply integrates PLC real-time control, AI edge inference, and industrial communication capabilities, consolidating control, computing, communication, and operation/maintenance into a single DIN-rail device.
To meet different application requirements, EdgePLC offers two product series:
BL245 series: The benchmark for high-end edge AI controllers. Powered by the Rockchip RK3588J/RK3588 industrial-grade processor featuring a heterogeneous computing architecture (4x Cortex-A76 + 4x Cortex-A55 + 3x Cortex-M0) with a max frequency of 2.4GHz. It integrates a dedicated NPU delivering up to 6 TOPS of AI computing power, supporting INT4/INT8/INT16/FP16/BF16/TF32 data precision and major deep learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Caffe, and MXNet. Hardware options include 32/64/128GB eMMC and 4/8/16GB LPDDR4X, along with rich interfaces: 2 to 3 adaptive Ethernet ports, 2 USB3.1 HOST, optional HDMI2.1 8K output, Mini PCIe expansion slot, and support for up to 32 N-series distributed I/O modules.
BL237 series: Lightweight industrial AI edge controller. With the ability to “replace three devices in one,” it integrates AI vision inspection, safety hazard warning, real-time PLC control, IT/OT data fusion, and on-site HDMI large-screen display, offering a low-threshold, high-realtime, intelligent solution for logistics sorting automation and smart manufacturing.
In process control scenarios (e.g., chemical industry) where real‑time and reliability are paramount, EdgePLC strictly follows the APC 2.0 concept (advanced process control evolving toward edge intelligence, AI integration, and distributed collaboration), deeply integrates the IEC 61499 distributed event‑driven standard with CODESYS real‑time logic control, and uses the built‑in NPU for AI‑based visual safety monitoring.
Breakthrough 2: Genuine CODESYS license – global compliance without risk
In early 2026, BLIIoT and CODESYS Group announced their strategic cooperation: the whole ARMxy series edge controllers officially support genuine CODESYS licenses. This is not just a hardware upgrade – it is a transformation of industrial control logic.
CODESYS is the world’s most widely used industrial control programming platform, fully compliant with the IEC 61131‑3 standard and supporting five programming languages: LD, FBD, ST, SFC, and IL. For engineers accustomed to traditional PLC programming, the learning curve is almost zero. Engineers can directly use the CODESYS development environment to write process control logic such as PID temperature control for reactors, sequence control of feed valves, and emergency stop logic.
In an era of growing IP awareness, BLIIoT’s full CODESYS support comes with official licenses, helping companies avoid legal risks and enabling Chinese equipment to pass compliance reviews in European and American markets – a solid foundation for equipment export.
Breakthrough 3: Open ecosystem and protocol fusion – from standalone control to global intelligence
With CODESYS on ARMxy, a single device can accomplish what previously required multiple devices:
Lower layer: Control drives and I/O via buses such as EtherCAT and CANopen.
Middle layer: Execute complex PLC logic operations and data processing.
Upper layer: Connect to cloud platforms via MQTT and HTTP, run Node‑RED and Python for AI inference.
EdgePLC also supports secondary development environments like Node‑RED, Docker, Python, C, and QT, allowing users to develop custom functions in familiar ways. The built‑in WebVisu function enables real‑time monitoring and operation of production interfaces through a web browser without the need for additional HMI hardware, significantly reducing system integration cost and maintenance complexity.
Scenario 1: Smart manufacturing lines – from automation to intelligence
With up to 6 TOPS of AI compute power, EdgePLC can identify product defects in milliseconds and make quality decisions locally. It synchronously controls multiple robots via EtherCAT while using spare compute capacity for path optimization. Its AI engine analyzes equipment vibration and temperature data in real time to predict faults and avoid unplanned downtime. One device simultaneously handles AI vision inspection, real‑time PLC control, and multi‑device coordination – replacing the traditional stack of “PLC + industrial PC + gateway” with a single, unified intelligent node.
Scenario 2: Smart energy storage – millisecond intelligent scheduling
In a distributed PV or battery storage cabinet, EdgePLC simultaneously manages BMS logic control and PCS real‑time scheduling. The AI analyzes grid load and electricity prices to make autonomous decisions, while CODESYS logic guarantees millisecond‑level charge/discharge switching – maximizing revenue and providing local protection. Support for multiple protocols (Modbus, OPC UA, MQTT) enables fast integration with various energy management systems.
Scenario 3: Chemical process control – AI‑enabled high‑reliability safety system
To meet the high safety requirements of the chemical industry (preventing personnel intrusion and gas leaks), EdgePLC deeply integrates CODESYS logic control with AI vision‑based safety monitoring. Once an anomaly is detected, the AI immediately instructs CODESYS to trigger an emergency shutdown process – closing the loop between “seeing” and “acting”. Support for the IEC 61499 distributed event‑driven standard flexibly handles complex tasks such as multi‑reactor coordination. For process industry enterprises that want to push AI compute power to the edge, break data silos, and still maintain real‑time control reliability, the EdgePLC BL245 is currently the most balanced and forward‑looking choice.
Scenario 4: Intelligent logistics sorting – the “seeing eye” at work
The EdgePLC BL237, with its “one device replaces three” capability, handles vision recognition (AI inference), real‑time control (PLC logic), and IT/OT data fusion all in one unit. It captures, identifies, and diverts high‑speed parcels while simultaneously displaying sorting data on an HDMI large screen. The low‑power, high‑reliability industrial design ensures 7×24 stable operation in logistics centers.
Scenario 5: Remote equipment operation and energy management
EdgePLC integrates remote operation tools (BLRAT), a quick configuration tool (QuickConfig), and an IoT platform (BLLoTLink). Device debugging, program updates, and fault diagnosis can be done remotely without on‑site visits, greatly reducing O&M costs. Real‑time energy consumption monitoring and analysis enable optimized energy use and green, low‑carbon production. A single device handles remote monitoring, data acquisition, cloud connection, and local control – a full‑stack solution.
Many vendors only provide “bare metal,” but BLIIoT adheres to a “full‑stack service” philosophy.
From the standard genuine CODESYS programming environment to Docker containerized application deployment; from built‑in support for dozens of industrial protocols such as OPC UA and MQTT to flexible expansion with N‑series distributed I/O modules; from AI vision inspection to predictive maintenance – EdgePLC is turning the vision of “control as computation, data as value” into reality.
The EdgePLC controller is more than a hardware product; it represents a new paradigm of “edge fusion” for industrial automation. As Industry 4.0 and digital twin applications become more widespread, EdgePLC is becoming a key hub connecting the physical world with digital systems, driving industrial automation toward a more flexible, intelligent, and open future.
The combination of BLIIoT EdgePLC and CODESYS is essentially a deep fusion of a powerful hardware platform and an open software ecosystem. It not only achieves the technical breakthrough of “control‑computing convergence”, but also provides an efficient, reliable, and compliant foundation for the intelligent transformation of industries across the board.
One EdgePLC gives you the “brain” of a production line – real‑time control, intelligent analysis, cloud data uplink, and remote O&M – all in one package.
From factory floors to smart buildings, from energy storage stations to logistics centers, from smart manufacturing to process control – EdgePLC is redefining the standard of edge intelligence with control‑computing convergence.
