IEC 61499 was developed to support distributed control. Distributed control is distinguished from purely hierarchical control by the fact that the decision processes associated with an application are not running under a single processor. Rather, the decision processes are divided among several processors, each having their own thread of control. However, in order to execute the application, these processors must exchange data and state information with each other.

This webpage will support the dissemination instructional material in distributed control developed under various funding at Rutgers University. As new material is prepared, it will be added. The workbook which can be downloaded from the link below contains a series of hands-on, self learning exercises in the application of IEC 61499 for Boolean control systems, client-server application, and the integration of database connectivity.