Cyber-Physical Systems

Integration of computation with physical processes. This term is essential for understanding industry 4 in industrial automation and PLC programming.

As factories move from isolated control systems to data-rich ecosystems, Cyber-Physical Systems emerges as one of the building blocks that makes the transition tractable. Integration of computation with physical processes.

Adopting Cyber-Physical Systems usually requires either an architectural shift in how plant data is collected, transformed, and consumed, or — more commonly — incremental layering on top of existing automation, using gateways, brokers, and reference architectures like the Purdue Model.

Cyber-Physical Systems typically demands skills that overlap OT and IT. Engineers who can speak both languages are rare and command a premium; the gap will close over the next decade as new graduates enter the field with both backgrounds.