The use of Industrial Ethernet is becoming more and more widespread, and the industry is becoming more familiar with Industrial Ethernet. In previous articles, I have had many introductions to industrial Ethernet. In this article, I will elaborate on the 6 major types of Industrial Ethernet. If you are interested in Industrial Ethernet, you may want to read on.
At present, the widely used industrial Ethernet standards include the following six types:
(1) MODBUSTCP/IP
Schneider Electric has adopted Industrial Ethernet-based collaborative automation solutions as its development strategy. MODBUS systems can be easily upgraded to MODBUSTCP/IP without the need for users to reinvest in the original system. In case of using MODBUS serial connection, e.g. RS485, corresponding products can be provided to update or upgrade existing MODBUS system to MODBUSTCP/IP very easily. If other networks are used, it is also possible to integrate or upgrade to an Ethernet system by applying the corresponding gateway.
(2) Ethernet/IP
Ethernet/IP is an industrial application layer protocol for industrial automation applications. It is an Ethernet industrial protocol created by Rockwell Automation, which mainly promotes ControlNet fieldbus, for the entry of Ethernet into the field of automation. It is built on the standard UDP/IP and TCP/IP protocols, and utilizes fixed Ethernet hardware and software to define an application layer protocol for configuring, accessing, and controlling industrial automation equipment. Ethernet/IP protocol consists of three parts: IEEE802.3 Physical Layer, Data Link Layer Standard Protocol, and Control and Information Protocol (CIP).
(3) EthernetPOWERLINK
EthernetPOWERLINK is a technology to solve the problem of real-time data transmission in the field of industrial control and data acquisition on the standard Ethernet medium. EthernetPOWERLINK has the high-speed and open interface of Ethernet, as well as the good SDO and PDO data definition of CANopen in the field of industry, which means POWERLINK is the best solution to the problem of real-time data transmission on Ethernet, and it can be said that POWERLINK is the best solution to the problem of real-time data transmission on Ethernet. In a sense, POWERLINK is the CANopen on Ethernet. The physical layer and data link layer use Ethernet media, while the application layer retains the original structure of SDO and PDO object dictionary.
(4) PROFInet
PROFINET is a new generation of automation bus standard based on industrial Ethernet technology introduced by PROFIBUS International Organization. PROFINET encompasses the current hot topics in automation such as real-time Ethernet, motion control, distributed automation, fail-safe and network security, etc., and as a cross-supplier technology, it is fully compatible with the industrial Ethernet and existing fieldbus (e.g. PROFIBUS) technology, which makes it possible for the automation to be fully integrated into the automation system and to be able to provide the best solution for the automation. PROFIBUS) to protect existing investments.
(5) SERCOSIII
Sercos (SerialRealTImeCommunicaTIonSystem) has been popular in the field of factory automation applications (suitable for mechanical engineering and construction) for over 25 years. sercsIII is a third-generation protocol that was developed in 2003. This highly efficient and deterministic communication protocol integrates the real-time data exchange of the Sercos interface with Ethernet.SERCOSIII is a combination of the proven communication mechanisms of SERCOS and Industrial Ethernet, with the real-time characteristics of SERCOS and the characteristics of Ethernet.
(6) EtherCAT
Originally developed by Pepperl+Fuchs Automation GmbH, EtherCAT sets new standards for real-time performance and topology flexibility, and at the same time meets and even reduces the costs of fieldbus use. etherCAT is characterized by high-precision device synchronization, optional cable redundancy, and a functional safety protocol (SIL3).
Depending on how the slave devices are implemented, Industrial Ethernet can be categorized into three types:
Type 1: Using general-purpose hardware and the standard TCP/IP protocol; Modbus/TCP, PROFInet/CbA, and Ethernet/IP all use this approach. Using the standard TCP/IP protocol and a general-purpose Ethernet controller, all real-time data (e.g., process data) and non-real-time data (e.g., parameter configuration data) are transmitted via the TCP/IP protocol. The advantages are low cost, easy realization and full compatibility with standard Ethernet. Some products may change or optimize the TCP/IP protocol for better performance in specific implementations, but real-time performance is always limited by the underlying structure.
Type II: the use of general-purpose hardware and the definition of real-time data transmission protocols. EthernetPowerlink, PROFInet/RT adopts this approach. It adopts a general-purpose Ethernet controller but does not use the TCP/IP protocol to transmit real-time data. Instead, it defines a specialized real-time data transmission protocol that includes a real-time layer to transmit data with high real-time requirements, and the TCP/IP protocol stack may still exist for transmitting non-real-time data, but its reading of the Ethernet is limited by the real-time layer to improve real-time performance. The advantages of this architecture are higher real-time performance and hardware compatibility with general-purpose Ethernet.
Type III: Using dedicated hardware and customized real-time data transmission protocols. etherCAT, PROFInet/IRT, SERCOS-III use this approach. This approach uses a proprietary Ethernet controller in addition to the second category to further optimize performance. The advantage is the high real-time performance, but the disadvantage is the high cost and the need to use a proprietary protocol chip, switches, etc..