Features – BruControl

Overview
- Software which monitors, controls, automates process machinery such as breweries
- Windows based application with intuitive setup, operation, and user interface
- Touchscreen friendly, customizable graphical interface for setup and operation
- Communicates with one or more local or networked microcontroller interfaces
- Microcontroller interfaces serve as hardware I/O for physical electronic controls
- Simple & flexible script language supports complete automation and multitasking
- Broad set of I/O & algorithms: digital, analog, PWM, counters, PID, duty cycle, hysteresis, temperature, etc.
Hardware
- Microcontroller interfaces are user provided, readily available boards (Arduino, etc.)
- Requires no programming – interface firmware and upload utility are provided
- Functions offloaded to interfaces for speed and communication failure tolerance
- Flexible, on-demand PIN declarations for integration with different devices
  - Digital Outputs
  - Digital Inputs
  - PWM / Analog Outputs
  - Analog Inputs
  - High frequency Counter Inputs (total and rate)
  - Various Temperature Sensors
  - Local LCD Display Output
- Device control algorithms
  - Duty Cycle Output
  - Hysteresis Output
  - PID Output
  - Approach Logic
- Multiple device type integrations
  - Relays (SSR / mechanical) for power devices such as heaters, motors, etc.
  - Contacts, switches, or sensors, like buttons, proximity, float, flow, etc.
  - Analog sensor reading, such as pressure, temperature, flow, weight, etc.
  - PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control of motors, lights, heaters, etc.
  - Analog output for control of proportional valves, pumps, actuators, etc.
  - Temperature measurement via thermistor/analog, RTD, or 1-wire (DS18B20)
  - Hall effect/pulse sensors such as encoders, flowmeters, proximity, etc.
  - Local LCD displays for information presentation separate from user interface
Software
- Windows application serving as one unified setup and control environment
- Modern intuitive touch-panel interface with selectable themes
- Small CPU/memory footprint runs on most PC hardware (Raspberry Pi pending)
- Multi-page “Workspaces” for display and control of different machines & systems
- Customizable graphical representation and control of physical devices
- Real-time display, control, and configuration of devices, timers, alarms, buttons
- Continuous device data collection, providing immediate access to historical data
- Flexible graphing of selectable values for historical data presentation/analysis
- Multiple, fully customizable layouts with user selectable images and formatting
- Supports multiple control types per physical device (e.g. Duty Cycle and PID)
- Communicates with multiple local or remote interfaces for unlimited I/O
- Local interfaces connect via USB & remote interfaces via standard TCP network
- Requires no programming for setup or user interface configuration
- Flexible & simple scripting language for process automation / autonomy
- Scripting includes flow control, variable handling, device control, and properties
- Concurrent Scripts to manage different machines systems and perform multi-tasking
- Parameters and calibrations independently configurable for each device
- Layered calibrations including Thermistor, RTD, Offset, Multiplier, Conversions, etc.
- Security system to limit unauthorized changes to environment or device states
- Multiple configurable alarms with hardware activations and email notifications
- Multiple count-up or count-down timers
- Multiple controls for user interaction with the automated control system
- Multiple variables for handling and monitoring data or operation performance
- Multiple buttons or switches for user interaction with automated processes