Case Studies
T113-S3 Industrial HMI and Production Line Control Terminal ODM Case Study
Oct
1. Project Overview
Automated production lines require reliable interfaces for equipment monitoring, parameter configuration, alarm management, and production data collection.
For this project, the customer needed a customized industrial terminal integrating HMI (Human-Machine Interface), PLC communication, equipment monitoring, and production data management.
KICKPI can provide an ODM solution based on the T113-S3 platform, combining embedded Linux software development with customized hardware interfaces to support industrial automation applications.
2. System Architecture
The proposed system uses the T113-S3 as the main processor for the HMI and monitoring application.
The terminal communicates with a PLC through Ethernet using Modbus TCP, while the PLC remains responsible for real-time machine control.
Key functions include:
- HMI interface: Real-time equipment status, parameter configuration, and operation feedback.
- PLC communication: Modbus TCP communication with connection monitoring, timeout handling, and automatic reconnection.
- Alarm management: Display of communication failures, equipment alarms, and abnormal data.
- Recipe management: Saving, loading, and switching production parameters with validation and access control.
- Production data: Recording operating status, process parameters, and production statistics.
This architecture separates the user interface and data management from real-time machine control, helping improve system reliability and simplify maintenance.
3. Key ODM Engineering Challenges
Reliable PLC Communication
Industrial networks may experience disconnections, PLC restarts, or communication timeouts. The software must detect abnormal conditions, display clear status information, and attempt to restore communication automatically.
Customized Industrial I/O
Depending on the application, the terminal may require DI, DO, ADC, RS485, CAN, USB, and other interfaces. Hardware customization must account for electrical levels, isolation, signal protection, output drive capability, and connector requirements.
Long-Term Linux Operation
Industrial terminals may need to operate continuously. The software design should address application crashes, memory leaks, network interruptions, filesystem integrity, and watchdog-based recovery.
Production Recipe and Data Management
Different products may require different temperature, pressure, speed, and timing parameters. The HMI software should support recipe storage, parameter validation, permission management, and controlled recipe switching.
4. KICKPI ODM Customization Capabilities
KICKPI can support hardware and software customization for industrial HMI and automation terminals.
- LCD and touchscreen integration
- Ethernet, RS485, and CAN interfaces
- Digital inputs and outputs (DI/DO)
- ADC, USB, RTC, and watchdog integration
Software customization
- Embedded Linux BSP adaptation
- HMI application development
- Modbus TCP and PLC protocol integration
- Alarm, recipe, and user permission management
- Production data logging and OTA update support
The final configuration depends on the project’s electrical requirements, PLC model, display specifications, and software architecture.
5. Potential Applications
A T113-S3-based industrial terminal can be developed for applications such as:
- Industrial HMI panels
- Automated production line monitoring
- Machine operation terminals
- Equipment status monitoring systems
- Customized industrial control interfaces
Looking for a customized industrial HMI or production line control terminal? Contact KICKPI to discuss your hardware requirements, embedded Linux development, and OEM/ODM project.
