UAO Goes Live: The Future of Automation

UniversalAutomation.org

UAO Goes Live brings the conversations from our popular LinkedIn Live series directly to your favorite podcast platform. Each episode explores the world of open, interoperable automation powered by IEC 61499. Join industry leaders, innovators, and experts as they share real-world applications, success stories, and insights that are shaping the future of industrial automation. Whether you are an engineer, a technology leader, or simply passionate about the next wave of automation, this podcast is your go-to source for cutting-edge discussions, practical knowledge, and thought leadership. Tune in and discover how UniversalAutomation.org (http://UniversalAutomation.org) and its ecosystem are transforming industries, one open standard at a time. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Episodes

  1. Episode 02: How Aimirim Uses IEC 61499 and UniversalAutomation.org to Drive Industrial Digital Transformation

    10/27/2025

    Episode 02: How Aimirim Uses IEC 61499 and UniversalAutomation.org to Drive Industrial Digital Transformation

    In this episode of UAO Goes Live, we explore how UniversalAutomation.org and the IEC 61499 standard are enabling groundbreaking innovation in industrial automation. Our guest, Renato Pacheco, founder of Brazilian startup Aimirim, shares real-world projects that demonstrate how open automation technology is transforming industries through portability, interoperability, and flexibility. Discover how Aimirim leverages UniversalAutomation.org’s shared runtime execution engine to build software-defined facilities, integrate IT and OT, and deliver data-driven automation platforms. From advanced process control and real-time optimization to digital twins, machine learning, and generative AI, Aimirim is proving that startups can compete with global players by embracing open standards. Key highlights include: ✅ How IEC 61499 enables plug-and-produce automation and hardware independence ✅ Real-world use cases in greenfield and brownfield projects ✅ Building scalable industrial SaaS platforms for Industry 4.0 About UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to transforming industrial automation through open standards and shared source technology. The association manages the reference implementation of a shared runtime execution engine based on the IEC 61499 standard, enabling true interoperability between hardware from multiple vendors and portability of automation software applications. By providing a ready-to-use, vendor-neutral runtime environment, UniversalAutomation.org empowers companies to build flexible Industry 4.0 architectures, accelerate digital transformation, and maximize return on investment (ROI) through software reusability and hardware independence. The development of this runtime is governed by shared source principles, ensuring long-term compatibility and collaborative innovation. Members—including end users, OEMs, system integrators, and technology vendors—work collectively to create a global ecosystem for plug-and-produce automation solutions. UniversalAutomation.org is growing rapidly as more organizations adopt open automation to overcome vendor lock-in, enable IT/OT convergence, and support greenfield and brownfield projects. Academic institutions are also leveraging this technology to train the next generation of automation engineers. Companies and institutions that want to lead the future of industrial automation, develop next-generation control systems, and participate in a global open automation community are invited to join UniversalAutomation.org. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    21 min
  2. Episode 03: How Platinum Uses IEC 61499 and UniversalAutomation.org for Sustainable Carbon Capture

    11/03/2025

    Episode 03: How Platinum Uses IEC 61499 and UniversalAutomation.org for Sustainable Carbon Capture

    In this episode of UAO Goes Live, discover how Platinum Electrical Engineering uses IEC 61499 and UniversalAutomation.org to deliver a modular, scalable automation system for carbon capture in Morocco. This innovative project integrates open automation, edge computing, and cloud analytics to enable autonomous algae growth that locks carbon for over 1,000 years. Learn how portability, interoperability, and hardware independence accelerate sustainability initiatives and future-proof industrial automation. About UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to transforming industrial automation through open standards and shared source technology. The association manages the reference implementation of a shared runtime execution engine based on the IEC 61499 standard, enabling true interoperability between hardware from multiple vendors and portability of automation software applications. By providing a ready-to-use, vendor-neutral runtime environment, UniversalAutomation.org empowers companies to build flexible Industry 4.0 architectures, accelerate digital transformation, and maximize return on investment (ROI) through software reusability and hardware independence. The development of this runtime is governed by shared source principles, ensuring long-term compatibility and collaborative innovation. Members—including end users, OEMs, system integrators, and technology vendors—work collectively to create a global ecosystem for plug-and-produce automation solutions. UniversalAutomation.org is growing rapidly as more organizations adopt open automation to overcome vendor lock-in, enable IT/OT convergence, and support greenfield and brownfield projects. Academic institutions are also leveraging this technology to train the next generation of automation engineers. Companies and institutions that want to lead the future of industrial automation, develop next-generation control systems, and participate in a global open automation community are invited to join UniversalAutomation.org. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    36 min
  3. Episode 04: How TriSystems Uses IEC 61499 and UniversalAutomation.org to Upgrade Offshore Platforms

    11/10/2025

    Episode 04: How TriSystems Uses IEC 61499 and UniversalAutomation.org to Upgrade Offshore Platforms

    In this episode of UAO Goes Live, discover how TriSystems Engineering leverages IEC 61499 and UniversalAutomation.org to modernize offshore oil and gas platforms in Southeast Asia. Learn how open automation enables hardware independence, portability, and interoperability, helping overcome obsolescence challenges and extend system lifespan. This real-world use case demonstrates how plug-and-produce architectures, low-power edge computing, and OPC UA connectivity deliver flexibility and resilience for remote operations. About UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to transforming industrial automation through open standards and shared source technology. The association manages the reference implementation of a shared runtime execution engine based on the IEC 61499 standard, enabling true interoperability between hardware from multiple vendors and portability of automation software applications. By providing a ready-to-use, vendor-neutral runtime environment, UniversalAutomation.org empowers companies to build flexible Industry 4.0 architectures, accelerate digital transformation, and maximize return on investment (ROI) through software reusability and hardware independence. The development of this runtime is governed by shared source principles, ensuring long-term compatibility and collaborative innovation. Members—including end users, OEMs, system integrators, and technology vendors—work collectively to create a global ecosystem for plug-and-produce automation solutions. UniversalAutomation.org is growing rapidly as more organizations adopt open automation to overcome vendor lock-in, enable IT/OT convergence, and support greenfield and brownfield projects. Academic institutions are also leveraging this technology to train the next generation of automation engineers. Companies and institutions that want to lead the future of industrial automation, develop next-generation control systems, and participate in a global open automation community are invited to join UniversalAutomation.org. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    34 min
  4. Episode 05: What Advantages Does Universal Automation Offer Beyond Total Cost of Ownership?

    11/17/2025

    Episode 05: What Advantages Does Universal Automation Offer Beyond Total Cost of Ownership?

    In this episode of UAO Goes Live, join a panel of experts from Shell, GR3N, R. Stahl, and Schneider Electric as they explore the transformative benefits of UniversalAutomation.org and IEC 61499 beyond reducing total cost of ownership. Discover how open automation enables hardware independence, portability, and interoperability, while driving innovation, resilience, and sustainability. Learn why decoupling hardware and software is key to future-proofing industrial automation and how it impacts commissioning, migration strategies, and new business models. About UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to transforming industrial automation through open standards and shared source technology. The association manages the reference implementation of a shared runtime execution engine based on the IEC 61499 standard, enabling true interoperability between hardware from multiple vendors and portability of automation software applications. By providing a ready-to-use, vendor-neutral runtime environment, UniversalAutomation.org empowers companies to build flexible Industry 4.0 architectures, accelerate digital transformation, and maximize return on investment (ROI) through software reusability and hardware independence. The development of this runtime is governed by shared source principles, ensuring long-term compatibility and collaborative innovation. Members—including end users, OEMs, system integrators, and technology vendors—work collectively to create a global ecosystem for plug-and-produce automation solutions. UniversalAutomation.org is growing rapidly as more organizations adopt open automation to overcome vendor lock-in, enable IT/OT convergence, and support greenfield and brownfield projects. Academic institutions are also leveraging this technology to train the next generation of automation engineers. Companies and institutions that want to lead the future of industrial automation, develop next-generation control systems, and participate in a global open automation community are invited to join UniversalAutomation.org. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    47 min
  5. Episode 06: Exploring Innovation with R. STAHL and UniversalAutomation.org

    11/24/2025

    Episode 06: Exploring Innovation with R. STAHL and UniversalAutomation.org

    In this episode of UAO Goes Live, we speak with André Fritsch from R. STAHL, one of the founding members of UniversalAutomation.org, about how open automation and IEC 61499 are driving innovation in hazardous area solutions. Discover why R. STAHL adopted the UAO runtime for its flagship Remote I/O system, enabling hardware independence, interoperability, and simplified engineering for Zone 1 installations. Learn how this approach accelerates time-to-market, reduces complexity, and creates new possibilities for distributed control and local data handling in process industries. About UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to transforming industrial automation through open standards and shared source technology. The association manages the reference implementation of a shared runtime execution engine based on the IEC 61499 standard, enabling true interoperability between hardware from multiple vendors and portability of automation software applications. By providing a ready-to-use, vendor-neutral runtime environment, UniversalAutomation.org empowers companies to build flexible Industry 4.0 architectures, accelerate digital transformation, and maximize return on investment (ROI) through software reusability and hardware independence. The development of this runtime is governed by shared source principles, ensuring long-term compatibility and collaborative innovation. Members—including end users, OEMs, system integrators, and technology vendors—work collectively to create a global ecosystem for plug-and-produce automation solutions. UniversalAutomation.org is growing rapidly as more organizations adopt open automation to overcome vendor lock-in, enable IT/OT convergence, and support greenfield and brownfield projects. Academic institutions are also leveraging this technology to train the next generation of automation engineers. Companies and institutions that want to lead the future of industrial automation, develop next-generation control systems, and participate in a global open automation community are invited to join UniversalAutomation.org. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    31 min
  6. Episode 07: Virtual Commissioning of IEC 61499 with CloViC

    JAN 26

    Episode 07: Virtual Commissioning of IEC 61499 with CloViC

    In this episode of UAO Goes Live, Professor Valery Vyatkin presents CloViC, a cloud‑based environment for virtual commissioning of IEC 61499 systems. CloViC instantiates containerized PLC images in the cloud, connects them to a web‑based IDE, HMI, and dynamic process simulation, and enables collaborative commissioning by distributed teams. The approach mirrors real PLC constraints better than local soft PLCs and can significantly reduce commissioning time and cost on large projects, while leveraging open automation and the runtime from UniversalAutomation.org. --- About UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to transforming industrial automation through open standards and shared source technology. The association manages the reference implementation of a shared runtime execution engine based on the IEC 61499 standard, enabling true interoperability between hardware from multiple vendors and portability of automation software applications. By providing a ready-to-use, vendor-neutral runtime environment, UniversalAutomation.org empowers companies to build flexible Industry 4.0 architectures, accelerate digital transformation, and maximize return on investment (ROI) through software reusability and hardware independence. The development of this runtime is governed by shared source principles, ensuring long-term compatibility and collaborative innovation. Members—including end users, OEMs, system integrators, and technology vendors—work collectively to create a global ecosystem for plug-and-produce automation solutions. UniversalAutomation.org is growing rapidly as more organizations adopt open automation to overcome vendor lock-in, enable IT/OT convergence, and support greenfield and brownfield projects. Academic institutions are also leveraging this technology to train the next generation of automation engineers. Companies and institutions that want to lead the future of industrial automation, develop next-generation control systems, and participate in a global open automation community are invited to join UniversalAutomation.org. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    28 min
  7. Episode 08: Unveiling runtime execution engine V24.0

    FEB 9

    Episode 08: Unveiling runtime execution engine V24.0

    In this episode of UAO Goes Live, Chief Architect Officer Sarath Malkasima introduces the UniversalAutomation.org runtime V24.0 and details what is coming next. New capabilities include partner license management, secure reliable transport (SRT) for runtime‑to‑runtime messaging, and network segregation on SoftDPAC for northbound and I/O communications. Stability, cybersecurity, MQTT fixes, and enhanced watch‑mode debugging also land in this release. The roadmap previews UTF‑8 strings, Modbus Serial for SoftDPAC, explicit Modbus TCP requests, multi‑resource high availability, online Basic FB debugging, cross‑project adapters, a 64‑bit runtime, plus stretch goals such as EtherNet/IP and PROFINET client functions. --- About UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to transforming industrial automation through open standards and shared source technology. The association manages the reference implementation of a shared runtime execution engine based on the IEC 61499 standard, enabling true interoperability between hardware from multiple vendors and portability of automation software applications. By providing a ready-to-use, vendor-neutral runtime environment, UniversalAutomation.org empowers companies to build flexible Industry 4.0 architectures, accelerate digital transformation, and maximize return on investment (ROI) through software reusability and hardware independence. The development of this runtime is governed by shared source principles, ensuring long-term compatibility and collaborative innovation. Members—including end users, OEMs, system integrators, and technology vendors—work collectively to create a global ecosystem for plug-and-produce automation solutions. UniversalAutomation.org is growing rapidly as more organizations adopt open automation to overcome vendor lock-in, enable IT/OT convergence, and support greenfield and brownfield projects. Academic institutions are also leveraging this technology to train the next generation of automation engineers. Companies and institutions that want to lead the future of industrial automation, develop next-generation control systems, and participate in a global open automation community are invited to join UniversalAutomation.org. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    27 min

About

UAO Goes Live brings the conversations from our popular LinkedIn Live series directly to your favorite podcast platform. Each episode explores the world of open, interoperable automation powered by IEC 61499. Join industry leaders, innovators, and experts as they share real-world applications, success stories, and insights that are shaping the future of industrial automation. Whether you are an engineer, a technology leader, or simply passionate about the next wave of automation, this podcast is your go-to source for cutting-edge discussions, practical knowledge, and thought leadership. Tune in and discover how UniversalAutomation.org (http://UniversalAutomation.org) and its ecosystem are transforming industries, one open standard at a time. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.