Industrial Sustainable Development: The Development Trend of Programmable Logic Controller Technology

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are indispensable for current and future industrial development, especially in smart factories, smart home technology, automated production lines, and machinery manufacturing. This study presents the trends in PLC software and hardware development through a technology roadmap and offers relevant suggestions to help industries achieve sustainable development, enhance market competitiveness, and provide references for research. Through expert interviews and fuzzy Delphi analysis, this study points out that future PLC development needs to focus on editing interfaces, syntax, Central Processing Units, Memory Units, and Communication Modules. Specific recommendations include visualizing regional/global label settings and connection settings, adding Python, JAVA, LabVIEW, and Scratch syntax, improving instruction execution speed, expanding program and expansion capacities, and adopting dual-channel Ethernet and connections to external networks and wireless networks. Fuzzy hierarchical analysis shows that Communication Modules are the most important component, followed by Central Processing Units and syntax expansion, and, finally, program and expansion capacity enhancements. These suggestions aim to promote product innovation and social environment demand evaluation, enhance product competitiveness, and achieve sustainable development goals.