4zerobox Bridges the Gap Between Industrial PLCs and IoT

Usually when we talk about IoT here at Hackster, our focus is on consumer-level hardware and software. These are the systems that help you easily make your home smart, and which allow you to automate everyday tasks. The reason is simple: just about everyone has a home. But, there are many ways the industrial arena can benefit from IoT as well.

That’s what 4zerobox is setting out to do, by integrating the programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that are already common in industrial applications with modern IoT technology. PLCs have been around for a long time, and they’re kind of like the Arduinos of the industrial world. They are rugged computers that can be used in a wide variety of automation and control applications, and just about every manufacturing facility on the planet uses them in some way or another.

The 4zerobox can take data from an existing PLC (or feed data to it) through a handful of common communication methods. Or, it can replace a traditional PLC completely. That data can then be sent to an IoT dashboard, which works similarly to home IoT systems. It can display the data, or allow users to control equipment. For ease of use, it’s programmed using Python, making it much simpler to setup control systems than with a normal PLC.

It’s currently in the crowdfunding stage on Kickstarter, and initial units are expected to ship in February of 2018. Early birds can get the 4zerobox for €149 (about $173 USD right now).