Sometimes you get the feeling that it’s almost good etiquette for work to be delayed on large-scale projects. It doesn’t have to be this way, though, as shown by results from the 2-wire Ethernet solution for process automation: Ethernet APL (Advanced Physical Layer).
Ethernet is the de-facto communication standard in enterprises, but it does not meet process automation requirements without modification. Ethernet-APL will enable long cable lengths and explosion protection via intrinsic safety with communication and power over two wires.
My momma raised me right. Growing up, she taught me there are certain topics you avoid expressing your opinions on to just anybody. Those were: religion, politics, and cybersecurity 😉. Nowadays though, it’s hard to avoid talking about these topics. Welcome to this security-focused issue of PROFINEWS.
It is not sufficient simply to protect plant networks and automation components, rather the protective mechanisms and concepts must not interfere with a running production operation. Additional measures will now supplement the proven IT security concept for PROFINET.
The buzzwords “agility” and “flexibility” are often justifiably uttered in the context of software engineering and, on a higher level, Industry 4.0. I also see the approach and attitude towards day-to-day challenges – as well as strategic ones – that define these terms as an aspiration and activity of our community.
Will the penetration of Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) into industrial applications down to the lower field level displace IO-Link, or can IO-Link and SPE coexist? Could there even be a solution which combines the advantages of IO-Link and SPE? A concept study on IO-Link over SPE.
As a basis, Big Data requires a high degree of machine-readable, standardized information that is available across all OT levels. With OPC UA Companion Specifications for both PROFINET and IO-Link, plus the push for Ethernet at the sensor level, more tools than ever are now in place.
IO-Link is growing at a remarkable rate around the world. By the end of 2019, there were already 16 million reported nodes. Maintaining quality whilst ensuring ease-of-use were two important requirements for the development of a new IO-Link master test system.
