The Allen-Bradley Point I/O 1734 modular system is designed to be different from the standard PLC controller configuration, signal acquisition, and actuator control assignment options. It is made to be an in-cabinet modular I/O platform whose modules can be stacked 1 to another and have 1 to 8 channels configured as analog or digital inputs or outputs. The system also has Ethernet, ControlNet, DeviceNet, or PROFIBUS adapters, RTD and thermocouple units, inputs for receiving signals from 5 Volts or 24 Volts rated encoders, I/O link masters, and RS-232 and RS-485 interface modules. The Point I/O 1734 system can exchange data with the PLCs whether they are installed in the same cabinet or whether they are serving as distributed I/O consoles that are positioned in extremely inaccessible and remote parts of the plant. This flexibility is further enhanced by the fact that safe and standard I/O modules can be installed in the same rack.

The Allen-Bradley Point I/O 1734 modular system in the Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture allows the users to diagnose each channel individually within any installed module when there is short-circuiting or disconnected wire, and it even supports alarm configuring by the users and filtering options. The system is software supported by the Studio 5000 application software and they have local autonomous control. The modules installed in the Point I/O 1734 system can be removed and inserted under power (RIUP), which is one of the most useful features for automated systems where it is vital to replace defective components. With 2 Ethernet ports, this modular I/O system can be configured as a part of a linear, star, and ring EtherNet/IP network topologies while processing up to 504 channels locally.