ASRock introduces AI copilot for IEC 61499

ASRock Industrial has introduced AiUAC Copilot, an AI-assisted control engineering solution designed to streamline development of IEC 61499-based automation systems.

The solution targets open industrial automation and distributed control architectures, addressing challenges related to complexity, manual engineering effort, and long development cycles.

Addressing complexity in IEC 61499 systems
IEC 61499 is increasingly used in distributed and software-defined control environments. However, developing control logic based on this standard often requires specialized expertise and extensive manual configuration of function blocks.

AiUAC Copilot is designed to reduce these barriers by automating parts of the engineering workflow, enabling faster development and improved accessibility for engineering teams.

Core functionality and workflow integration
The system converts structured control specifications into IEC 61499-compliant logic using AI-assisted processes. This enables direct generation of deployable control applications without the need for extensive manual coding.

Key capabilities include:

The solution supports integration of industrial I/O, motion control, fieldbus communication, and robotic subsystems within a unified development environment.

Improved development efficiency and scalability
By automating logic generation and reducing dependency on manual configuration, AiUAC Copilot shortens development cycles and enables faster validation and iteration of control applications.

This approach supports:

The generated applications are compliant with IEC 61499 and can be deployed directly within compatible runtime environments.

Validation and deployment environment
AiUAC Copilot has been validated on the iEP-5000G industrial IoT controller, which serves as a reference platform for development and testing. The system provides computing performance, industrial connectivity, and operational stability required for distributed control applications.

While the solution is not hardware-dependent, the platform demonstrates its applicability in real-world industrial environments.

Integration with runtime architecture
AiUAC Copilot complements the AiUAC runtime platform, which provides execution for IEC 61499-based control applications. Together, the two solutions form a layered architecture combining development automation with distributed runtime execution.

This integration enhances both engineering productivity and system scalability.

Industry relevance and outlook
The introduction of AI-assisted engineering tools reflects a broader trend toward automation of software development in industrial control systems. As systems become more complex and distributed, tools that simplify development and improve consistency are increasingly important.

By enabling faster and more accessible IEC 61499 implementation, AiUAC Copilot supports the adoption of open, flexible automation architectures.

Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas, with AI assistance.

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