Challenges

1. Limited Access to Industry-Standard Technologies:

Many educational institutions rely on proprietary PLC solutions from specific vendors, such as Siemens, Beckhoff, Schneider, ABB, and Rockwell, which often use their own dialects of programming languages and unique hardware. This vendor-specific approach limits students' exposure to industry-wide standards, potentially narrowing their skill set and making it difficult for them to transition to different platforms in their professional careers.

2. Fragmented Learning Environments:

Educational institutions labs are often equipped with hardware and software from multiple vendors, each requiring specific tools and environments for programming and management. This fragmentation creates logistical challenges for both students and instructors, making it difficult to standardize education across different labs and ensuring that all students receive consistent training.

3. Lack of Modern IT Workflows in Education:

Traditional PLC programming environments typically lack modern IT workflows, such as version control, role-based access management, and collaborative coding features. This absence makes it difficult for students to engage in collaborative learning, receive feedback from peers and instructors, and manage their projects effectively.

4. High Costs and Maintenance of Vendor-Specific Hardware:

Educational institutions often face significant costs in purchasing, upgrading, and maintaining vendor-specific PLCs and associated hardware. This financial burden can limit the ability of the institutions to expand their labs or provide students with the latest technologies.

How OTee supports in solving these challenges:

1. Free Access to Industry-Standard Technology:

OTee offers a cloud-based platform that provides students with free access under a student license.

2. Centralize the education around technologies, not vendors:

By facilitating for industrial automation using open technologies, the students learn the basics of the available technologies instead of learning how to use specific products.

3. Unified Learning Environment Across Labs:

OTee can elevate the programming environment across all university labs by consolidating them onto a single cloud platform that is fully compliant with international standards. This approach enables a seamless integration with existing hardware, such as Industrial PCs, servers, Raspberry Pi devices, or even PLCs with a Linux kernel. By transitioning to an open, standardized technology, universities can ensure that all students, regardless of the lab they work in, receive consistent and comprehensive training.

4. Integration of Modern IT Workflows:

OTee introduces a range of advanced features not typically found in traditional OT environments, such as role-based user management, version control, code libraries, fleet management, and AI-supported programming. These features enable students to collaborate more effectively, manage their projects with professional-grade tools, and receive real-time feedback from peers, professors, and even AI. This approach not only enhances the learning experience but also prepares students for the collaborative and dynamic nature of modern industrial environments.

5. Cost-Effective and Future-Proof Solution:

By adopting OTee’s platform, universities can significantly reduce the need to purchase and upgrade vendor-specific PLCs. The platform's flexibility allows institutions to deploy virtual PLCs on standard hardware connected to I/O, ensuring that labs remain current without incurring high costs. Additionally, as the platform supports various industrial protocols, it can easily integrate with existing lab setups, providing a seamless transition to a more modern and versatile educational environment.

Benefits

• Enhanced Learning Experience: Provide students with access to industry-standard technologies and modern IT workflows, ensuring they are well-prepared for their future careers in industrial automation. Move the focus from vendor specific software, to a technology centric approach.

• Standardized Education Across Labs: Unify the programming environment across all labs, ensuring consistent training and making it easier for instructors to manage and assess student progress.

• Increased Collaboration and Feedback: Leverage advanced features like version control, role-based access, and AI support to foster a collaborative learning environment where students can receive timely feedback and improve their programming skills.

• Cost Savings and Future-Proofing: Reduce the financial burden of purchasing and maintaining vendor-specific hardware by transitioning to a flexible, cloud-based platform that can be deployed on a variety of standard hardware.