Universal tool for estimation of programmable logic controllers processing power

Article covers the issue of PLC processing power estimation techniques. Absence of universal methods entailed need to elaborate specialized synthetic benchmark. By simulating representative workload, it was used to test wide spectrum of controllers. Additional tests were carried out to measure controllers´ performance for different program items. Obtained results were confronted with existing determinants of PLC processing power. Serious drawbacks of the latter were shown. On the contrary, designed benchmark proves to be appropriate and universal tool for PLC performance comparison with promising future applications.