Programmable automation controller
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A programmable automation controller (PAC) is a compact controller that combines the features and capabilities of a PC-based control system with that of a typical programmable logic controller (PLC). PACs are most often used in industrial settings for process control, data acquisition, remote equipment monitoring, machine vision, and motion control. Additionally, because they function and communicate over popular network interface protocols like TCP/IP, OLE for process control (OPC) and SMTP, PACs are able to transfer data from the machines they control to other machines and components in a networked control system or to application software and databases.
[edit] PAC Origins
The ARC Advisory Group, an analyst group focused on the manufacturing industry, is generally credited for popularizing the acronym "PAC". It was first coined in 2002 as a way to help users of control hardware better define their needs, and to give the leading control hardware vendors a term to more clearly communicate the capabilities of their products.
