Robert Brandl - Embedded Expert | Software Developer | Technical Lead & Mentor | RTOS | Industrial Communication | OPC UA

Industrial Communication | Proof of Concept: Controller-to-Controller Communication with OPC UA FX

Proof of Concept for OPC UA FX-based controller-to-controller communication between virtual programmable logic controllers (vPLC) on an industrial edge platform. A virtual test environment was set up on Debian Linux in two phases (including VMs and vPLCs), shared-memory communication (real-time information bus) was activated, and the RIB solution was integrated into a customized product firmware (including shared memory and PROFINET support) and deployed in containerized environments (Docker). Additionally, a virtual Ethernet connection was developed to simulate the network topology. Finally, commissioning, functional tests, sample application creation, comprehensive documentation, and customer support were completed.

Industrial Communication | Linux-based PROFINET I/O Interface Module with PROFINET-TSN

Ported and commissioned an RT Linux-based PROFINET I/O interface module (interface head unit) with PROFINET-TSN. Created Yocto environments with 32-bit support and cross-compilation toolchains on Windows and Linux. Built bootable RT Linux images and set up a GDB-based debug environment. Ported and deployed the PROFINET software stack (EPS) to the target hardware (TI AM64x). Made U-Boot adjustments and performed a TFTP boot for prototype commissioning. Optimized kernel parameters for real-time operation. Additionally, automated the build process using Yocto, KAS, and CI/CD, and maintained the build environment, scripts, and documentation continuously.

Embedded PKI | Dynamic OPC UA GDS Certificate Management via Web API

Designed, prototyped, and finally implemented a dynamic certificate management system for OPC UA GDS. Developed and integrated a web API into the firmware's built-in web server for asynchronous private key generation and management of trust lists and CSRs. Connected the solution to the dynamic OPC UA GDS certificate management system and integrated it into the PLC engineering environment. Additionally, updated the web SDK, added diagnostic messages and alarms, and integrated it into the engineering software. Finally, carried out code reviews, testing, test support, and documentation.

Industrial Communication | OPC UA and embedded PKI for industrial controllers: Evaluation, concepts, integration, further development, and certification

Developed, integrated, and certified OPC UA server/client functionality for programmable logic controllers. Implemented dynamic real-time memory management with minimal fragmentation, user and role management, PKI-based certificate handling, and asynchronous private key generation. Implemented binary parsers for OPC UA information models and Alarms & Conditions, evaluated and integrated the OPC UA HPC SDK (vs. ANSI C SDK), and prepared and conducted the OPC UA compliance certification (including CTT test automation).

Designed and implemented a GDS integration with embedded PKI (including downgradable locks) in close collaboration with the SDK vendor. Additionally: evaluated OPC UA PubSub, continuous optimizations, bug fixes, and quality assurance.

Digital twin | Simulation of a programmable logic controller

Long-term project to develop simulated PLC firmware on Windows for creating simulation-based digital twins. Implemented a POSIX to Windows wrapper (P2W), emulated a bare-metal RTOS, and built deterministic multi-core scheduling.

Focus areas included integrating motion control, snapshot and tracing features, continuous optimization of simulated real-time behavior, code quality, memory and runtime performance, and product protection. In later phases, replaced the P2W wrapper with an RTOS emulation, ported the PLC firmware including communication, and integrated new components such as a virtual network switch with Npcap, scalable time control, feature configuration, and front panel simulation.

Additionally: Docker feasibility study, Windows driver certification (WHQL/HLK), OpenSSL integration, VS plugin development, co-simulation improvements, and automated tests in a CI environment.

Freelance software developer for embedded systems focusing on developing, optimizing, and ensuring the quality of low-level software for industrial applications in embedded systems, industrial controllers, industrial communication, and automotive engineering. Assignment locations: Fürth, Nuremberg, Erlangen, Bamberg, Karlsruhe.

Commercial software developer for home computer games

• 1985: Published "Roboservant" in the magazine "64'er" (Markt & Technik) for the Commodore 64 (co-author: T. Schmidt).
• 1986: Published "Robo's Revenge" in the magazine "Happy-Computer" (Markt & Technik), awarded "Listing of the Month" (co-author: T. Schmidt).
• 1986: Sold and commercially released "Suicide Voyage" by Rainbow Arts (Eurogold Ltd.) for the Commodore 64 (co-author: T. Schmidt).
• 1991: Released the games "The Hammer" and "Panic Ball" for the Amiga (GoodSoft Verlag, Wolf Software & Design). Later re-released these games and "LadyJ" in the retro game collection "Retro Classix" (magnussoft Deutschland GmbH).

I was young, happy about the income—and it was my entry into low-level software development as well.