Open Source Industrial Control: Turning 2,800 Tons of Metal with Python and Flask

Discover how Python and Flask revolutionize industrial control in this 32-minute PyCon US talk. Explore the fascinating journey of developing a cyber-physical system for precisely rotating massive hydropower generators using open-source software and off-the-shelf components. Learn about the Bureau of Reclamation's hydroelectric operations and the challenges faced in maintaining large rotating machines. Delve into the innovative solution that combines distributed computing, custom printed circuits, and electromagnetism to create a modular system capable of turning 2,800 tons of metal with unprecedented precision. Gain insights into system design, product development, and the practical application of Python in the physical world. Understand how this groundbreaking approach improves safety, efficiency, and accuracy in diagnostic and maintenance tasks for hydroelectric plants across the western United States.