Just as every grocer praises his own goods, so does every proponent of the various Industrial Ethernet protocols currently on the market. Due to the com-plexity of this technology, however, it is difficult to verify all of the differing marketing claims regarding superiority. Even experienced professionals can find it difficult to identify the unique characteristics of each protocol, let alone offer suggestions about the suitability of one system or another with regard to particular application requirements.
To provide readers with a means of comparison, the Ethernet POWERLINK Standardization Group (EPSG) published a comprehensive synopsis of the main technical, economic and strategic criteria of the most important Industrial Ethernet systems back in 2011. Following the overwhelming success of this report and taking into account new developments for each of these protocols, this overview has now been revised and updated. This new edition not only takes into account feedback submitted by the Industrial Ethernet community, but also includes a new chapter devoted solely to safety protocols.
This updated report is available at no cost. Simply download the report in PDF form from the EPSG website http://www.ethernet-powerlink.org/IndustrialEthernetFacts2 or send a request for a printed copy to info@ethernet-powerlink.org.
About EPSG
The Ethernet POWERLINK Standardization Group (EPSG) is an independent organization founded in 2003 by leading companies from the fields of motion control and automation technology. Its aims are the standardization and further development of the POWERLINK protocol first introduced by B&R in 2001. This high-performance real-time communication system is an advanced protocol based on the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard designed to ensure real-time data transfer in the microsecond range. The EPSG cooperates with leading standardization organizations such as CAN in Automation (CiA) and the IEC. Anton Meindl, business manager of Controls at B&R, is the organization–s CEO.