Festo: Remote I/O – The Key to Smarter Automation
November 10, 2026
Festo: Remote I/O – The Key to Smarter Automation
When engineers think about machine performance, the conversation often starts with the controller, drives, motors, and field devices. But there is another part of the architecture worth looking at: how signals travel between those devices and the control system. That decision can influence more than wiring. It can affect installation effort, machine layout, future modifications, and the way equipment is maintained over time.
This is where Remote I/O becomes an important part of the conversation.
First, What Is Remote I/O?
Every automated machine relies on signals. Sensors report conditions such as position, pressure, or temperature, while actuators and valves respond to control commands.
Input/output (I/O) modules provide the connection between these field devices and the control system. With a centralized architecture, I/O is typically installed in the main control cabinet alongside the PLC. Signals from devices distributed across the machine must be routed back to that location.
Remote I/O takes a different approach. Instead of bringing every signal back to a central point, I/O modules can be installed closer to the devices they connect.
The modules communicate with the central controller through an industrial network, using protocols such as PROFINET, EtherCAT, or EtherNet/IP, depending on the system configuration.
The PLC remains responsible for control logic. What changes is how the signals are collected and connected with the wider automation system.
Want to see how this works in practice? Explore the Festo Remote I/O animation to visualize how distributed I/O fits into an automation architecture.
Explore the Remote I/O Animation
Why Does the Location of I/O Matter?
Consider a machine with several stations, multiple sensors, and devices spread across a relatively large production area.
With a centralized I/O arrangement, the distance between field devices and the control cabinet can mean longer individual signal cables and more wiring to organize. As the machine grows, that arrangement may become more complex to install and modify.
Placing I/O closer to the process can help reduce these long cable runs and simplify connections between field devices and I/O modules. It can also support a more modular machine layout, making it easier to plan expansions or changes to individual sections.
For machine builders and system integrators, these considerations matter during design, assembly, commissioning, and later modifications.
For maintenance teams, a well-planned architecture can also make field connections easier to organize and troubleshoot.
Remote I/O is not simply about moving modules out of a cabinet. It is about deciding where signals should enter the control architecture and how that decision supports the machine throughout its lifecycle.
What Should You Consider Before Choosing Remote I/O?
A decentralized architecture can offer clear advantages, but it is not automatically the right choice for every machine.
The starting point should be the application itself.
- Machine Layout and Cable Routing: How far are the field devices from the control cabinet? Are signals concentrated in one area or spread across several stations? These factors can help determine whether distributed I/O locations make sense.
- Expansion and Modularity: Will the machine need additional stations, sensors, or functions in the future? A modular I/O architecture may make these changes easier to accommodate, depending on the system design.
- Communication and Integration: Which industrial network does the controller use? The selected I/O system must be compatible with the control architecture, communication protocol, and device requirements.
- Installation Environment: Where will the modules be installed? Environmental conditions, enclosure protection, connector selection, and accessibility all influence the choice of hardware and its placement.
- Maintenance Requirements: Consider how field connections will be accessed, diagnosed, and replaced. The architecture should support the way the machine will actually be operated and maintained.
These factors help put the decision into context. Smaller or highly centralized machines may work well with local I/O, while larger or modular systems may benefit from a decentralized approach. The best fit depends on the application, not on choosing one architecture by default.
From Architecture to Application
Remote I/O is one part of a larger automation architecture. Its value depends on how well the I/O modules, field devices, industrial network, and controller work together.
That is why hardware selection should follow the machine requirements rather than the other way around.
Festo’s Remote I/O portfolio gives machine builders and system integrators options to consider when designing how I/O connects with the wider automation system. The right configuration depends on the application, the selected components, and the requirements of the machine.
Whether you are developing a new machine or reviewing an existing installation, understanding where signals are collected—and how they reach the controller—is a useful starting point for evaluating your options.
Is Remote I/O Right for Your Application?
Understanding the concept is the first step. Evaluating how it fits your machine is the next.
Use the Festo Remote I/O checklist to review your requirements and consider the factors that influence your I/O architecture.
Want to Dive Deeper Into Remote I/O?
Discover more resources to help you understand the technology and evaluate its potential for your automation applications.
- Understanding Remote I/O: Functions, Benefits and Applications
- Trends in Remote I/O
- Simple Digitalization with Remote I/O
- Scalable Connection of Remote I/O and Valve Manifolds
- Reduce Costs with Remote I/O and the Right System Architecture
- Save Costs with Remote I/O: Optimize Your Application
- Modular Remote I/O System CPX-AP-A
Explore More Automation Insights
Find more technical resources, engineering tools, and automation solutions at Festo.
- Customer Interaction Center: 1-877-GO-FESTO
- Email: festo.canada@ca.festo.com
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