Bosch Rexroth is positioning ctrlX OS as a hardware-independent industrial Linux platform for software-defined automation, where the same application stack can move across controllers, IPCs, edge systems and virtual environments. In this interview, the focus is on secure industrial control, app-based deployment, and a common runtime that lets developers build once and roll out across multiple device classes with far less integration work. https://www.ctrlx-os.com/
The demo shows how ctrlX OS can host different control approaches on the same data layer, from a soft PLC to Node-RED, while exposing machine states and digital I/O through a unified interface. That matters because industrial edge systems increasingly mix classic control logic, visualization, protocol handling, and data services on one platform rather than splitting them across isolated boxes.
A key theme here is the broader hardware reach created by Bosch Rexroth’s work with AMD. The transcript points to support for CPU, GPU and MPU resources, which fits the current push toward x86 embedded processors and adaptive SoC platforms for edge compute. For developers building process-hungry workloads, that opens the door to more demanding HMI, analytics and edge AI pipelines without changing the operating-system layer or rewriting the deployment model.
Security and lifecycle management are just as central as performance. ctrlX OS is presented here as CRA-ready and aligned with IEC 62443-4-2 Security Level 2 expectations, while also giving access to the practical features engineers actually need in the field: backup and restore, reset, license management, app installation, and centralized access to every exposed data point. The result is less about a single controller and more about a secure, manageable OT software platform.
What makes the story interesting is the developer angle. Bosch Rexroth is clearly pushing an API-driven model where the same functions available in the web UI can also be automated through REST APIs, virtual controllers, SDK tooling, and reusable apps. Filmed at Embedded World 2026 in Nuremberg, this interview captures a broader transition in industrial automation: PLC logic, low-code tools, edge AI acceleration, and secure app deployment are starting to converge into one programmable software stack.
