The use of the term 'redundancy' in the communications context was primarily introduced by the mathematician and electrical engineer, Claude E. Shannon. It is not the amount of information that is increased, but the probability that the information reaches the recipient. For the industrial network this finding is of fundamental significance.
If a message does not reach a recipient in an office environment, this error can be corrected by sending the message again later. In the industrial environment this same error can have serious consequences. If, for instance, a robot on a production line does not receive the necessary information for several minutes, or even for a few seconds, the entire production line may be affected. In certain circumstances it could mean the line stops.
Hirschmann has developed the Hiper-Ring (for Ethernet networks) based on the concept of the Spanning Tree Protocol. The Hiper-Ring significantly increases the availability of the network and facility, while with Spanning Tree, 30 seconds typically elapse before the failure of a link is compensated, with Hiper-Ring this takes less than half a second. The structure is considerably simplified, as only one additional cable is necessary for Hiper-Ring. Also of interest is the possibility of expansion. A recovery time of a maximum of 500 ms is guaranteed for topologies with up to 50 switches that support the Hiper-Ring concept. The maximum possible distance between two devices is 70 km. Optical ports are available for covering larger distances, which means that the rapid switchover time of 500 ms is made possible for networks covering considerably more than 3000 km.
Enhancing process efficiency Endress+Hauser South Africa
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
In the ever-evolving landscape of industrial process automation, staying ahead of technological advancements is crucial. The Endress+Hauser FieldPort SWA50 is a game-changer, offering a seamless integration of Bluetooth and WirelessHART communication for HART field devices.
Read more...Providing visibility over critical infrastructure Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Sequence of event recorders or sequence of event monitors play a significant role in monitoring and maintaining critical infrastructure. Gary Bradshaw, director at remote monitoring equipment specialist, Omniflex, outlines the applicable industries and reasons for use.
Read more...AI-driven innovations with CCTV and cyber security RJ Connect
Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The fast progress of artificial intelligence (AI) and video analytics is redefining the rail surveillance landscape. Advancements have bolstered proactive event detection, predictive maintenance and enhanced situational awareness.
Read more...Compact drive and control technology Beckhoff Automation
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
When custom machine builder Lehnen Industrial Services introduced a filling machine for lip balm, the company was surprised by the amount of interest in this premium system. In order to meet this demand, they decided to standardise the machine. The necessary adaptability is provided by the scalable control technology from Beckhoff.
Read more...Condition monitoring in three axes with smart IO-Link vibration sensor ifm - South Africa
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Machine vibrations are important indicators when it comes to assessing the current condition of a machine. Damage to rolling element bearings and other machine components can be detected at an early stage before costly machine downtime occurs.
Read more...EtherCAT interoperability removes industrial networking barriers
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Selecting the right communication technology is one of the most important decisions engineers make, and interoperability helps with that decision. Key development tools and standards ensure interoperability among many EtherCAT devices and manufacturers.
Read more...Boosting long-distance critical signal delivery in mining Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
In mining applications globally, conveyor belts of up to 20 km are used to transport ore. Damage to conveyors often causes cargo spillage and creates major safety risks. Ian Loudon, international sales manager at remote monitoring specialist, Omniflex explains how these challenges can be combatted using bidirectional fibre optic modules.
Read more...Industrial PCs with new processor generations and increased performance Beckhoff Automation
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
PC-based control technology from Beckhoff has always benefited from the convergence of automation and the IT world. Current examples include the use of the latest industry-standard processor generations, high-quality and demand-optimised flash memory, and the long-term availability version of Windows 11.
Read more...New EtherCAT digital input and output terminals Beckhoff Automation
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The new EL14xx and EL24xx EtherCAT Terminals from Beckhoff complement the company’s existing broad portfolio in the area of digital input/output, and combine proven functions with an optimised circuit architecture.
printer friendly version