Watch new Video on PROFINET and Time Sensitive Networking

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December 19, 2017
Industrial Internet of Things, News, PROFINET, Snippets

Time-sensitive networking (TSN) is a promising technology drawing a lot of attention at the moment, especially in the context of Industry 4.0, where it is generally viewed as the opportunity for better integration of OT networks into the IT networks of companies.

TSN offers great potential for PROFINET. It aims to combine the wide range of IT networks with the robustness and determinism of automation networks. In short: hard real-time via standard IT networks. But this doesn’t signal a revolution for PROFINET. Rather, it represents a visionary architecture upon which PROFINET is building. Through further development of Ethernet in IEEE 802.1, future devices with standard Ethernet controllers can be developed that still meet all the robustness and determinism requirements of industrial automation.

Our video shows you what requirements Industrie 4.0 has and how real-time communication with PROFINET based on TSN fulfil it.

Click here to view the video …

PI standardizes Ethernet in the field of process automation

By
December 11, 2017
News, Press Releases, Process Industries, PROFINET

*** Press Information ***

Nuremberg, November 29, 2017: NAMUR, the User Association of Automation Technology in Process Industries, has outlined requirements for the application of Ethernet in the field in its position paper “An Ethernet communication system for the process industry.” These requirements impact the physical layer, among other things. As a solution for this issue, a corresponding physical layer – known as APL (Advanced Physical Layer) – is being created for Ethernet-based communication in the field of process systems, as part of a joint project by well-known industrial companies and organizations, in which PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) is taking a leading role.

This project is based on the new Ethernet standard whose specifications are currently under development by the IEEE 802.3cg working group, for 10Mbit/s via a two-wire system and for up to 1,000 m including optional power supply. The project’s aim is to define the necessary guidelines for the use of the new standard in hazardous areas and to determine the requirements and tools for conformity tests and EMC tests. The solution is also set to be tested within the context of reference designs and pilot implementations.

As part of the further advancement of Industry 4.0 and IIoT, Ethernet (and thus PROFINET) will establish itself in process automation. PROFINET is fast, powerful, flexible, open and offers a host of functions for the specific tasks of the process industry. This includes optimum Redundancy mechanisms, “Configuration in RUN” for smooth device swapping during operation, and Time Stamping for the recording of event sequences, etc. With the market introduction of FDI as an integration technology and the deployment of the PA Profile 4.0, PROFINET has taken two more major steps toward process automation.

The only thing still missing is a solution with which PROFINET Devices can also be provided for use in hazardous areas and in two-wire technology including optional power supply over the data line (similar to PROFIBUS PA). And this is exactly the technological orientation of the APL project.

Eleven prestigious suppliers of systems and devices for process automation – namely, ABB, Endress+Hauser, Krohne, Pepperl+Fuchs, Phoenix Contact, Rockwell Automation, Samson, Siemens, Stahl, VEGA and Yokogawa – are cooperating with PI in this project, as are the organizations FieldComm Group and ODVA.

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Press Contact:                                                                                                

PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International)

Support Center

Barbara Weber

Haid-und-Neu-Str. 7

D-76131 Karlsruhe

Tel.: 07 21 /96 58 – 5 49

Fax: 07 21 / 96 58 – 5 89

Barbara.Weber@profibus.com

http://www.PROFIBUS.com

Integration of TSN in PROFINET makes great strides

By
December 8, 2017
News, Press Releases, PROFINET

*** Press Information ***

Nuremberg, November 29, 2017

At the 2017 Hannover Fair, PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) announced their intention to use TSN (Time Sensitive Networking) for PROFINET. The first working group findings are now available and a roadmap for the specification work has been created.

TSN is receiving a lot of attention today, especially in the context of Industry 4.0, and is generally viewed as the opportunity for better integration of OT networks into the IT networks of companies. Through further development of Ethernet in IEEE 802.1, future devices with standard Ethernet controllers can be developed that still meet all the robustness and determinism requirements of industrial automation. Since TSN only defines a Layer 2 for communication, PROFINET is predestined, as an application protocol, to seamlessly integrate TSN, so controllers and field devices can communicate with each other and exchange data.

One focus of the working group that is responsible for the PROFINET standard was defining which of the numerous IEEE 802.1 standards will be required for the specification of TSN integration into PROFINET. Here, synchronization using 802.1 ASrev, TAS (time aware shaper, 802.1Qbv) and preemption (802.1Qbu) are among the most important functions. Through the early selection of supported standards, device manufacturers can prepare for TSN now and plan their next generation of devices with TSN.

However, a significant finding of work so far is that the configuration of TSN network parameters will be among the decisive criteria for success and acceptance by users. TSN will only be easily integrated into systems if it uses a Plug & Work approach that makes extensive adjustment unnecessary. PI therefore primarily pursues the IEEE decentralized configuration model, which allows the creation of flexible, efficient system networks and will be tested, for example, on the test bed of Labs Network Industrie 4.0.

Thanks to the proven basic architecture of PROFINET using standard Ethernet, user perception on issues such as IO data, parametrization, diagnosis, etc. remains unchanged. In view of the large installed base of PROFINET Devices, this is an important compatibility issue for our users.

PI has set the first quarter of 2019 as its goal for publication of the specification for use of TSN with PROFINET.

In the meantime, click here to watch our new PROFINET TSN video …

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Press Contact:                                                                                                

PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International)

Support Center

Barbara Weber

Haid-und-Neu-Str. 7

D-76131 Karlsruhe

Tel.: 07 21 /96 58 – 5 49

Fax: 07 21 / 96 58 – 5 89

Barbara.Weber@profibus.com

http://www.PROFIBUS.com

New IRT Basic Technology for PROFINET Controllers

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December 6, 2017
Members' News, News, Product News, PROFINET

*** Press Information ***

Nuremberg – November 29, 2017: In addition to dedicated work on the integration of new standards such as TSN, the PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) community also drives further development of today’s basic technologies forward. That also makes sense, since a broad base due to a large diversity of manufacturers and very varied high-quality devices establishes a firm foundation for the steady continuation of the innovative PROFINET standard.

Thus, Siemens also offers a new development kit for integration of a PROFINET IRT Controller into any desired target systems. Its core is the ASIC SOC1 proven in many of their products and the associated firmware stack. A configuration library derived from already proven engineering tools is available for easy network parameterization in the particular engineering environment of the target system. The required software components are supplied in source code so possible adaptations or portings necessary for integration into the particular target systems can be carried out. A fast, easy start is possible with the CP 1625 evaluation board as the development platform. The interface to the application for the long-established PROFINET RT Controller, which is used in various customer products, was enhanced with functions for IRT and clock synchronization.

There is also good news on the subject of drive technology. Application examples for drive classes AC1 (standard drive) and AC4 (servo drive) are available for easy implementation of the PROFIdrive drive profile in the devices on both the controller and device side.

Hilscher, the independent communications specialist, has rounded off the spectrum of real-time Ethernet protocols for netX with the PROFINET IRT Controller technology. The PROFINET IRT Controller is now a standard part of the established CIFX PC cards or net Jack and COMX embedded modules.

Alternatively, the PROFINET IRT Controller can be used with the Hilscher netX multi-protocol master chips for integration in designs. Design of the IRT network is carried out exclusively with the proven Hilscher SYCON.net configuration tool.

Both the PROFINET IRT Controller and the PROFINET IRT Device can be operated together with the PROFIdrive reference implementations. The appropriate interface adaptations are available from Hilscher or through the PROFIdrive community. This also simplifies access to the drive solutions with PROFINET IRT.

The increased number of newly certified PROFINET Devices also shows that growth in device diversity is uninterrupted. Trouble-free interaction of different devices in the machines and systems is only assured by practice-oriented certification tests. That’s why PI invests heavily in the development of test tools and the qualification of testing laboratories.

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Press Contact:                                                                                                

PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International)

Support Center

Barbara Weber

Haid-und-Neu-Str. 7

D-76131 Karlsruhe

Tel.: 07 21 /96 58 – 5 49

Fax: 07 21 / 96 58 – 5 89

Barbara.Weber@profibus.com

http://www.PROFIBUS.com

Joint PI and OPC Foundation Working Group Displays PROFINET in OPC UA

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December 4, 2017
Industrial Internet of Things, News, OPC, Press Releases, PROFINET

*** Press Information ***

Nuremberg, November 29, 2017: The PI and OPC Foundation Joint Working Group is making good progress in the preparation of an OPC UA Companion Specification for PROFINET. This team was launched following the discussions and prioritization of issues relevant to PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) in the “Industrie4.0@PI” working group in May 2017. The use cases Asset Management and Diagnosis emerged as especially important.

The collaboration of PROFINET and OPC experts from different firms currently concentrates on the detailed elaboration of concrete use cases, because only a clear, common understanding of users’ requirements leads to an appropriate and subsequently implemented specification.

The PROFINET specification has already performed a lot of preparatory work on Asset Management and Diagnosis use cases, which were also rated as especially relevant by the users. The scope and level of detail of these functions are unique. Thus, the required information is provided to the user in accordance with a standardized structure in the OPC UA object tree following mapping of the objects in the OPC UA Information Model made available via the PROFINET system during vertical access by an IT system via OPC UA client-server calls. This information can then be easily processed in superimposed systems.

Thanks to the TCP/IP channel in PROFINET networks, which has always been open, OPC UA access can take place via the controllers, gateways, or even directly to subordinate devices. Therefore a start in OPC UA can take place flexibly and in phases.

OPC UA is not a new topic for PI. Thus, the FDI specification energetically pursued by PI uses OPC UA services. The already applied OPC UA specification for devices is also used in the PROFINET mapping. The coordination with new activities for mapping of IO-Link in accordance with OPC-UA takes place continuously, ensuring seamless joint integration into the OPC UA Object Model.

The activities aim to create an OPC UA PROFINET Companion Specification by mid-2019. The device manufacturers can continue to integrate the proven PROFINET services without change. A display of information using OPC UA services in accordance with currently defined mapping can then take place in the corresponding devices in accordance with customer requirements.

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Press Contact:                                                                                                

PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International)

Support Center

Barbara Weber

Haid-und-Neu-Str. 7

D-76131 Karlsruhe

Tel.: 07 21 /96 58 – 5 49

Fax: 07 21 / 96 58 – 5 89

Barbara.Weber@profibus.com

http://www.PROFIBUS.com

PROFIsafe for OPC UA – fail-safe networking for machines

By
November 30, 2017
Factory Automation, News, Press Releases, PROFIsafe

*** Press Information ***

Nuremberg, November 29, 2017: PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) developed PROFIsafe in the 1990s, making fail-safe communication and transfer of process data possible over the same connection. While many users regarded the new technology sceptically at the time, it has since gained ground over a wide front. Today, PROFIsafe is the world market leader among safety-oriented protocols. PI paved the way to implement completely new possibilities for simplification of machines and systems for users. The technology is stable and mature.

Until now, however,  fail-safe communication via a fieldbus or Industrial Ethernet has been limited to pure master-slave or controller-device architectures. Appropriate couplers are used for reliable transfer between machines and between the controllers used in the machine. But even today, there is no cross-manufacturer standard.

Since PI decided upon OPC UA for connections between controllers in PROFINET networks, it is consistent and necessary to also extend the PROFIsafe mechanisms to OPC UA. By reusing the proven, familiar PROFIsafe mechanisms, PI expects significant simplification for manufacturers who wish to implement PROFIsafe on OPC UA in their PROFINET controllers. This assures high acceptance by both manufacturers and customers, as well as bodies such as certification authorities. Furthermore, the users benefit from an open technology and thus cross-manufacturer communication at the control level for both standard and safety-related data.

Tom Burke, President of the OPC Foundation, confirms: “Functional safety is an essential part of industrial automation systems and the PI solution (PROFIsafe) truly meets and exceeds the OPC Foundation requirements for safety for the OPC UA based controller to controller communication.“

To this end, a memorandum of understanding between the OPC Foundation and PI was signed in the run-up to the SPS IPC Drives trade show in Nuremberg, Germany. The agreed goal is to establish a Joint Working Group of members from both organizations in order to create the PROFIsafe over OPC UA specification for use in fail-safe controller to controller communication. This specification will then become an integral component of the OPC UA specification framework. The OPC UA client-server, Pub/Sub and future Pub/Sub services must be mapped with TSN for the various communication requirements.

“Thus, two strong organizations drive the basis for a customer-oriented, open solution in the important Industrie 4.0 scenario of machine to machine communication,” affirms Karsten Schneider, Chairman PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International).

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Press Contact:                                                                                                

PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International)

Support Center

Barbara Weber

Haid-und-Neu-Str. 7

D-76131 Karlsruhe

Tel.: 07 21 /96 58 – 5 49

Fax: 07 21 / 96 58 – 5 89

Barbara.Weber@profibus.com

http://www.PROFIBUS.com

Advanced Physical Layer for Industrial Ethernet – Press Information

By
November 20, 2017
News, Press Releases, Process Industries, PROFINET

FieldComms-ODVA-PI-logos

FieldComm Group, ODVA and PI Provide Joint Update on an Advanced Physical Layer for Industrial Ethernet

Organizations are cooperating to promote developments for Industrial Ethernet to expand use of EtherNet/IP™, HART-IP™ and PROFINET™ into hazardous locations in the process industry

Bad-Neuenahr, Germany — 8 November 2017 — The organizations FieldComm Group, ODVA and PI (Profibus & Profinet International) joined together to provide an update on the current status of future technology and standards for an advanced physical layer for Industrial Ethernet that will be suitable for use in demanding applications in process instrumentation, commonly referred to as “APL.”  Their briefing explained industry activities and the projected timeline to realize an advanced physical layer for Industrial Ethernet – as intrinsically safe, single-pair and long-reach – for use with process automation field devices. The organizations were joined by representatives from suppliers of process instrumentation and controls in order to provide a well-rounded perspective on the benefits of an advanced physical layer for end users in the process industries, as well as discuss the actions being taken to complete the work needed to realize APL in process field devices.

The organizations, in combination with process automation and instrumentation suppliers, are seeking to leverage the work currently underway in the IEEE 802.3cg Task Force, which is developing amendments to the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard for an Ethernet physical layer operating at 10 Mb/s over single-pair cable with power delivery, and additional developments being done by the suppliers to define the requirements and develop the necessary technology to achieve an Industrial Ethernet suitable for use in hazardous locations up to Zone 0, Division 1.

Together, the organizations and suppliers have formed a steering committee to coordinate the overall work effort to achieve and promote an advanced physical layer for EtherNet/IP, HART-IP and PROFINET.  Dr. Jörg Hähniche, chairperson of the steering committee and employee of Endress+Hauser, Mr. Stefan Lüder, project manager for the advanced physical layer activity and employee of Siemens, Mr. Ted Masters, president of the organization FieldComm Group, Ms. Katherine Voss, president of the organization ODVA, and Mr. Karsten Schneider, chairman of the organization PI, shared in delivering the update.

“APL will be a significant advancement for our industry by extending existing Ethernet technology to address our traditional two-wire topology and intrinsic safety,” stated Ted Masters, president of FieldComm Group.  “Like today, multiple protocols will be used in all facilities, but with the added capabilities of APL and Ethernet-based technologies. With integration through FDI and its information model, our industry can now shift their focus from the protocol to capture the value of the information provided by field devices.”

“EtherNet/IP has proven to users that it offers significant benefits in performance, ease-of-use, interoperability and its substantial ecosystem of suppliers,” said Katherine Voss, president of ODVA.  “EtherNet/IP is future-ready to take advantage of the many exciting developments coming to Industrial Ethernet including single-pair Ethernet which will offer simplified and lower-cost connection schemes for users in a variety of applications.  Users in the process industry will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the future advanced physical layer technology.”

“Industrie 4.0 driven innovations, in particular, Ethernet-based communication systems are the main driving force for increasing the profitability of process industries, whose production systems have to work for years without interruption in rough environments,” added Karsten Schneider, chairman of PI. “Today, there is still a need for a solution with which PROFINET devices can also be provided for use in hazardous areas based on two-wires and supplying power over the line. This is why PI pushes the implementation of APL – the corresponding physical layer for Ethernet communication – being created in a joint project with well-known industrial companies and organizations.”

Based on timelines published by the IEEE 802.3cg Task Force, the organizations expect that enhancements to the IEEE 802.3 standard for long-reach, single pair Ethernet will be complete in 2019 and available for integration into their respective Ethernet specifications in 2020.  Combined with the additional activities of the process automation and instrumentation suppliers to accelerate development of technology for an advanced physical layer, the organizations foresee that the first Ethernet-connected field devices for use in hazardous locations should appear in 2021 or 2022.

Because the future developments for an advanced physical layer for Industrial Ethernet will provide significant benefits to end-users in the process industry, this press conference was held in conjunction with activities leading up to the 2017 General Meeting of NAMUR, an international user association of automation technology in process industries.  As part of their joint promotion of an advanced physical layer and its potential adaptation to their respective industrial Ethernet networks – EtherNet/IP, HART-IP and PROFINET – the organizations plan to provide future updates at venues relevant to end users in the process industry including, but not limited to, ACHEMA 2018, which will be held 11-15 June 2018 in Frankfurt, Germany.

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Editorial Notes

About FieldComm Group
FieldComm Group is a global standards-based organization consisting of leading process end users, manufacturers, universities and research organizations that work together to direct the development, incorporation and implementation of new and overlapping technologies and serves as the source for FDI™ technology. FieldComm Group’s mission is to develop, manage and promote global standards for integrating digital devices into automation system architectures while protecting process-automation investments in HART® and FOUNDATION™ Fieldbus communication technologies. Membership is open to anyone interested in the use of the technologies. For more information, visit their website at http://www.FieldCommgroup.org

For more information, contact:
Talon Petty
Tpetty@FieldCommgroup.org

About ODVA
ODVA is an international standards development and trade organization with members from the world’s leading automation suppliers. ODVA’s mission is to advance open, interoperable information and communication technologies for industrial automation. Its standards include the Common Industrial Protocol or “CIP™,” ODVA’s media independent network protocol – and the network adaptations of CIP– EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, CompoNet™ and ControlNet™. For interoperability of production systems and their integration with other systems, ODVA embraces the adoption of commercial-off-the-shelf, standard Internet and Ethernet technologies as a guiding principle. This principle is exemplified by EtherNet/IP – one of the world’s leading industrial Ethernet networks.  Visit ODVA on-line at http://www.odva.org.

For more information, contact:
John Jackson
ODVA European Communications Office
jjackson@odva.org

or

Adrienne Meyer
ODVA Headquarters
ameyer@odva.org
+1(734)975-8840

About PI
PI is a widespread automation community in the world represented by 25 different Regional PI Associations and is responsible PROFIBUS and PROFINET, the two leading industrial communications protocols covering all industries. The common interest of PI’s global network of vendors, developers, system integrators and end users lies in promoting, supporting and using PROFIBUS and PROFINET. Regionally and globally over 1,400 member companies are working closely together around the world to the best automation possible. The organization’s global influence and reach are unmatched in the world of automation. For more information, please visit the website at www.profibus.com

For more information, contact:
Barbara Weber
PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International)
Barbara.Weber@profibus.com
+49 (721) 96 58 – 5 49

CIP, EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, CompoNet and ControlNet are trademarks of ODVA, Inc. FDI, FOUNDATION and HART-IP are trademarks of FieldComm Group. PROFIBUS and PROFINET are trademarks of Profibus & Profinet International. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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