Isource Virtual controller for building and upgrading APCS

Main article: APCS - typical structure

2025

Virtual Controller - New Management Architecture - From PLC to Enterprise Cloud

Today, industrial enterprises are moving from hierarchical control systems to flexible digital platforms that combine process management, data analysis and cybersecurity in a single environment. This transformation requires a new perspective on the role of the controller as a key element of APCS. Icors is developing Virtual Controller technology - a domestic platform that performs PLC functions on various equipment without physical controllers. The solution provides independence from specific hardware platforms and a high ability to scale the system, meeting the current requirements of industrial automation. Read more here.

Development of a virtual controller for 300 million rubles

Icors introduced a virtual controller for the Russian industry on September 15, 2025, designed to build and modernize automated process control systems (APCS). The product is already included in the register of Russian software under number No. 28867.

According to representatives of Icors TAdviser, the solution was created according to the industry technical assignment of INTI OTZ-06.01.04-2025 taking into account the approaches and initiatives of the working group on open APCS under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. Its development was carried out by a team of 40 IT developers and engineers of ICS ICS "Icors." The period for launching the product on the market - from the concept stage to the finished solution - amounted to 1.5 years, and investments in the project - 300 million rubles. The expected payback period is less than 5 years.

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Фото: fanjianhua на Freepik

"Today, two factors determine the development of the APCS market. High dependence on Western technologies, especially in the chemical and petrochemical industries, and the convergence of manufacturing and information technology markets. These factors lead the development of the market towards the open architecture of APCS and open solutions, when the system has open specifications, standards, understandable principles for the formation and interaction of components among itself, the opportunity for integrators and vendors to interact in the development of the system, - said the executive secretary of the RG OAPS under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, director of the ANO "Open Automation Systems" Anton Arnautov.

According to him, the virtual controller was initially developed with an emphasis on compatibility with international initiatives in the field of open architecture, including Open Process Automation Standard (OPAS), and the approaches of the domestic working group on open APCS (APCS). It supports flexible data routing, secure messaging and distributed computing management, which in turn makes the product convenient for use in OPAS systems.

According to Icors, as of mid-September 2025, the virtual controller has no complete analogues in the Russian market. In addition to upgrading and building APCS, the solution helps to implement the digital transformation of enterprises - to replace classic hardware PLCs with a flexible, scalable and open platform. Thanks to the modular architecture, the development is adapted to different scenarios - from local control systems for small autonomous objects to control systems for large industrial objects.

Controller virtualization technology reduces capital and operational costs, reduces the need for expensive spares and the number of service points, which, according to Icors, reduces operating costs by up to 20%, while on large projects (more than 5,000 signals) companies can receive up to 30% of capital cost savings.

The product is designed as a universal platform for industrial automation, including critical infrastructure facilities in the power, fuel and energy complex, mining, metallurgical and chemical industries, and for building automation - residential complexes, offices and shopping centers. The virtual controller adapts to the object, provides local autonomous operation and integration into enterprise IT systems.

"The solution has successfully passed all stages of certification, is included in the register of Russian software and is already being implemented at industrial and civilian facilities," said Valentin Mishin, Business Development Director of Aisors JSC. - We are primarily focused on two industries - mining and automation of building engineering systems, where in the short term we plan to occupy up to 15-20% of the market.

As he clarified, the development of Icors is not just an alternative to classic PLCs, but a universal platform: it performs standard management functions, allows you to optimize technological processes, implement information security functionality and integrate with production management systems.

Our strategic goal is to create a unified information environment for the enterprise - from digital sensors and actuators to the management level, "added Valentin Mishin.