Erqos has introduced hardware-verified agentic programming for its EQSP32 Connected MicroPLC. The new capability adds native Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) functionality, allowing an AI agent to generate, execute and validate industrial control programs directly on the physical controller.
Erqos EQSP32 – AI-generated control programs tested on real hardware
Key Features
- Real-silicon execution during automated verification
- Deterministic sensor-state and actuator-state injection
- Repeatable testing of safety interlocks
- Compressed testing for long-duration control sequences
- Persistent test artifacts for regression workflows
- Closed verification loop: AI generates → loads → tests → revises code on real hardware
- Works with a sub-$200 EQSP32 MicroPLC + USB + AI agent (no expensive test bench required)
The EQSP32 runs the actual control program on its own silicon while the AI agent injects simulated sensor conditions and observes the outputs through a serial connection. This creates an independent hardware check instead of relying solely on software simulation.
What It Enables
- Safe testing of pressure, temperature, level and switch inputs at precise values
- Observation of pumps, valves and alarms under controlled conditions
- Injection of fault scenarios (sensor failures, out-of-range values, threshold violations)
- Compressed evaluation of long operating sequences, delays and interlocks
In a documented reverse-osmosis water-treatment example, an AI agent generated the functional specification, control program, 31-case HIL test plan, test harness and final report in just 18 minutes of unattended operation — with all 31 tests passing on the real controller.
Target Applications
- AI-assisted industrial programming
- Machine control systems
- Water treatment and process automation
- Safety-critical control logic validation
Source: Electronics For You