What is an RTU and PLC and what are the differences?
An RTU, or Remote Terminal Unit, is a microprocessor controlled electronic device that interfaces objects in the physical world to a distributed control system or SCADA system by transmitting telemetry data to the system and/or altering the state of connected objects based on control messages received from the system. A programmable logic controller (PLC) or programmable controller is a digital computer used for automation of electromechanical processes. Currently, RTU and PLC functions overlap, but traditional RTUs are used for wide geographic telemetry and PLCs are best suited for local area control.
