Ethernet has become a hot topic in automation. The question is which automation problems will be solved with Ethernet and which will be solved with already existing fieldbus systems.
Will Ethernet replace all existing fieldbus systems like Profibus, DeviceNet, InterBus, CAN and AS-Interface? Will AS-Interface, as the only sensor-actuator-bus system for binary sensors and actuators, disappear - or is AS-Interface the ideal partner system in the sensor actuator level for Ethernet installations?
The problem of realtime data transmission via Ethernet has been widely discussed and has been solved within some limits. Thus automation devices can be connected with Ethernet used as fieldbus. The future will see many fieldbus installations being replaced by Ethernet installations, and both solutions will be used parallel for factory automation. Protocols out of the Internet world such as HTTP and FTP enables standard tools like web browsers to display information. This enables remote maintenance via the Internet. Each device can get its own web server with its own homepage. Different fieldbus systems can be connected to the Ethernet via gateways that act as proxy servers. In that way the respective data of the various fieldbus nodes can be transmitted via Ethernet.
AS-Interface comes from the very lowest level of networking binary sensors and actuators. That aspect has mostly been left out in the discussion of Ethernet in automation. However, it is important because the quantity of binary sensors and actuators makes up about 90% of all automation devices. The development of AS-Interface was based on the requirements of the actuator sensor level.
The intention was that the commissioning of an AS-Interface installation had to be very simple. The easy handling and the quick connection of AS-Interface slaves to the yellow cable using the piercing technology are the big advantages of AS-Interface. A single unshielded two-wire cable is used both for powering the AS-Interface slaves and data transmission. Because of the ability to have AS-Interface modules with only a few inputs and outputs, or even integrated sensors or actuators there is no parallel wiring in machines and plants. Ethernet I/O modules need at least 16 binary I/O to be efficient. Can you imagine a single binary sensor with its own Ethernet interface and homepage?
The big advantage of AS-Interface is the cost efficiency because of rapid cabling, commissioning and also the use of diagnostics in the sensor level. AS-Interface can be connected to Ethernet either via fieldbus, or directly. With the use of Bihl+Wiedemann's AS-Interface/Ethernet Gateway in stainless steel, both Ethernet and AS-Interface can be combined in an optimal way. While control tasks are solved within the Ethernet level, the binary sensors and actuators are communicating via AS-Interface. The use of the gateway's internal web server offers the possibility to display the all AS-Interface data with the help of a standard browser.
AS-Interface is a suitable sub system to network binary sensors and actuators. It does not matter if AS-Interface is a sub system to already existing fieldbus systems or to Ethernet. Users who invest in AS-Interface today can be sure that they have invested in a system fulfilling the requirements of the future. Ethernet and AS-Interface do work together.
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...Condition monitoring to go Turck Banner Southern Africa
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Anyone who wants to efficiently monitor the climate in control cabinets will find a comprehensive range of control cabinet monitors for the DIN rail in Turck Banner’s cabinet condition monitoring family.
Read more...Affordable building management system product range
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Schneider Electric has unveiled its EasyLogic Building Management System range, designed for basic building architectures, to the local marketplace. This is a complete and cost-effective range of field controllers and sensors that are both easy to install and scalable.
Read more...Flexible EtherCAT communication interface for DALI-2 Beckhoff Automation
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The EL6821 EtherCAT Terminal from Beckhoff allows up to 64 DALI/DALI-2 slaves and 64 DALI-2 input devices to be connected. The TwinCAT 3 System Manager makes it easy to configure and parameterise DALI devices flexibly.
Read more...EtherCAT-based control technology for building automation Beckhoff Automation
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Modern non-residential buildings place many high demands on building automation. This can be optimally implemented with EtherCAT-based control technology from Beckhoff, which provides an efficient central automation architecture thanks to ultra-fast data communication.
Read more...PC-based control for university studies Beckhoff Automation
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The IDEA box developed at Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences is designed to introduce students to the topic of Industry 4.0 in a simple and practical way. At the core of the corresponding demo case is PC-based control from Beckhoff.
Read more...A new standard in high-speed Ethernet communication
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The TXMC897 module from TEWS Technologies supports a range of Ethernet standards and speeds, making it suitable for diverse applications, including the defence, industrial, and IIoT markets.
Read more...Data-driven battery production Turck Banner Southern Africa
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The availability of high-performance batteries at moderate prices is one of the most important factors for the success of electromobility. As a long-standing automation partner to the automotive industry, Turck Banner supports the major battery manufacturers with its know-how.
Read more...Bring critical temperature data to your condition monitoring system Turck Banner Southern Africa
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Data conversion just got easier. Turck Banner converters are compact, simple add-ons that seamlessly fit into your factory applications. You can take various types of signals such as discrete, analogue and many others, and convert them to protocols like IO-link, PICK-IQ, PWM/PFM, and Modbus.
Read more...Case History 190: Measurement problem ruins level control. Michael Brown Control Engineering
Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The widely held belief in many plants that tuning will solve all base layer control problems is completely fallacious. Bad tuning is generally not the main reason for loops to perform badly. It is important when performing optimisation that all elements in a loop are considered, in addition to the control strategy, before even thinking of tuning.
printer friendly version