--- title: "Unified HMI + PLC Platform" url: "https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/solutions/unified-hmi-plc-platform" description: "Simplify industrial automation with Dragonfly's unified HMI PLC platform. Combine real-time PLC control, EtherCAT, and OPC UA on one compact edge device." --- # Unified HMI + PLC Platform On this page [Overview](https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/solutions/unified-hmi-plc-platform/#overview) [Benefits](https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/solutions/unified-hmi-plc-platform/#benefits) [Use Cases](https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/solutions/unified-hmi-plc-platform/#usecases) [Block Diagram](https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/solutions/unified-hmi-plc-platform/#blockdiagram) [Hardware](https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/solutions/unified-hmi-plc-platform/#hardware) [Software Stack](https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/solutions/unified-hmi-plc-platform/#software) [Demos](https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/solutions/unified-hmi-plc-platform/#demos) Ready to get started? Contact sales to get started with your solution. Contact sales ## Overview Industrial automation is shifting toward compact edge platforms that consolidate deterministic PLC control, rich HMIs, and telemetry to reduce system complexity and improve scalability. This application is a mixed-criticality implementation on [Qualcomm Dragonwing™ industrial processors](https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/applications/industrial-infrastructure), where real-time PLC control and a Windows-based HMI are configured to run on the same SoC while remaining isolated through virtualization and CPU partitioning. Using PREEMPT_RT Linux and KVM, deterministic EtherCAT control with [CODESYS](https://us.codesys.com/) is designed to execute alongside a virtualized HMI, with OPC UA helping enable streamlined interaction between workloads without impacting real-time performance— aiming to prove that control and interface can reliably coexist on a single platform. [Product license agreement](https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/solutions/unified-hmi-plc-platform) ## Benefits This application is designed to: - **Consolidate PLC control and Windows HMI** onto a single platform powered by the Dragonwing IQ Series to help reduce hardware footprint and system complexity. - **Achieve low-jitter, real-time control** with PREEMPT_RT + CODESYS while maintaining a full Windows HMI experience. - **Run and reuse Windows and legacy applications** on ARM—including x86 via emulation— help to accelerate migration and reduce redevelopment costs. - **Isolate real-time control and UI workloads** to help ensure deterministic performance without interference. - **Enable seamless system integration** using OPC UA and EtherCAT for interoperable control and data exchange. ## Use Cases ### PLC and remote I/O gateway Combine real-time I/O control, EtherCAT communication, OPC UA data exchange, and local HMI in one compact edge controller. ### Multi-axis motion control Run low-jitter EtherCAT motion workloads while providing operator supervision, tuning, alarms, and diagnostics through the HMI. ### Brownfield HMI modernization Reuse existing Windows HMI applications while migrating control workloads to a modern real-time Linux platform. ### Robotic cell supervision Control motion and I/O in the real-time domain while using the HMI for robot status, alarms, manual operation, and maintenance workflows. ### Connected factory interface Expose machine data through OPC UA for SCADA, MES, diagnostics, and remote monitoring without adding a separate gateway. ### Operator-guided fault recovery Detect faults in the control domain and guide operators through recovery actions using a rich Windows HMI. ### Control + HMI consolidation PLC and Windows HMI on one IQ-powered system. ## Block Diagram IMAGE_URL: https://www.qualcomm.com/content/dam/qcomm-martech/dm-assets/images/products/internet-of-things/solutions/unified-hmi-block-diagram.svg ## Chipsets [Dragonwing IQ-9075](https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/products/iq9-series/iq-9075) [Dragonwing IQ-8275](https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/products/iq9-series/iq-8275) [Dragonwing IQ-2390](https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/products/iq2-series/iq-2390) ## Software Stack **Base OS / platform image:** QLI 1.7 is recommended, [Qualcomm® IM SDK documentation - Qualcomm IM SDK reference - Qualcomm® Linux Documentation](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-50/topic/qimsdk_landing_page.html?product=895724676033554725&facet=Intelligent_Multimedia_SDK.SDK.2.0&version=2.0-rc3) **Virtualization:** A kernel-based virtual machine (KVM) is, [an open-source virtualization module integrated into the Linux kernel](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-3/topic/virtualization.html?product=895724676033554725&facet=Kernel&version=2.0-rc3) **Real-time enablement:** Linux real-time workload with [PREEMPT_RT](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-3/topic/real_time_kernel_overview.html?product=895724676033554725&facet=Kernel&version=2.0-rc3) **HMI/GUI:** Uses the [Qt Framework (QT6),](https://www.qt.io/development/qt-framework/qt6) a cross-platform framework for building modern, high-performance user interfaces **PLC/automation runtime:** Uses the [CODESYS](https://us.codesys.com/) software platform for industrial automation and PLC applications **Integration protocol:** OPC UA between HMI and PLC/control components ## Demos [Unified PLC + HMI Application Demo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHtERfPcSrg) Watch here ## Ready to get started IMAGE_URL: https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/evk-thumb "Eyebrow icon" [Dragonwing IQ-9075 EVK](https://www.qualcomm.com/developer/hardware/qualcomm-iq-9075-evaluation-kit-evk) Start your design with the Dragonwing IQ-9075 EVK IMAGE_URL: https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/iq-8275-evk "Eyebrow icon" [Dragonwing IQ-8275 EVK](https://www.qualcomm.com/developer/hardware/qualcomm-iq-8275-evaluation-kit-evk) Sign up for the 90-day extended trial of [QT for Device Creation](https://www.qt.io/qt-and-qualcomm) pre-integrated with Qualcomm Linux for Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ series. [Contact Sales](https://www.qualcomm.com/support/contact/forms/iot-contact-sales) for more information