Electricity and Control February 2020

INDUSTRY 4.0 + IIOT

Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) technology is bringing what was on the horizon for Smart Manufacturing closer by offering an increasingly holistic approach to industrial communications today.

world data on the performance of physical machines and their virtual counterparts. As a result, it is possible to create highly accurate and responsive real-time digital twins 1 . Key considerations in adopting TSN technology As a key enabler for Industry 4.0, TSN will likely become a must for industrial communications in the near future. Development teams from different disciplines, from IT and engineering design to manufacturing and logistics, should start researching and planning the implementation of this technology in their industrial communication networks. Looking at TSN offers a good chance to assess in-house systems and find a migration path to address future needs. A parallel emerging trend is the growing need for increased bandwidth to handle the ‘explosion’ of data that Industry 4.0 is generating. As TSN is also being linked with the trend towards gigabit Ethernet, any assessment needs to combine TSN and gigabit Ethernet. Taking all this into account, two key points become clear. Firstly, industries should consider what open network technologies are available to help them migrate current industrial Ethernet systems to TSN compatibility. Secondly, Balluff takes up CC-Link IE TSN opportunities Automation specialist Balluff foresees the role CC-Link IE TSN will play in creating a highly connected network of devices communicating in a deterministic way and interfacing seamlessly with IT and higher-level management systems. As a global automation player Balluff offers high-end sensors, connection solutions and related products. Key technologies it uses include RFID systems, fieldbus network blocks, cables and IO-Link, the technology for connecting peer-to-peer sensors, actuators and other systems and components to a controller. IO-Link is one of Balluff’s principal product ranges and already includes models that are compatible with CLPA’s open network technologies, CC-Link fieldbus and CC-Link IE open gigabit Ethernet. The company is now looking to the future of industrial communications to address the needs of Industry 4.0 applications. John Browett, General Manager, CLPA-Europe, says, “Today’s market requires the integration of devices, such as vision systems, with a higher demand for bandwidth. The capability to provide vertical integration from machine networks into IT infrastructure is also in high demand, so to be able to manage both, efficiently, on the same network is a big step forward.

At a glance ■ Typically, any given plant will have many different types of networks, as installations take place over time and according to different needs.TSN offers the possibility to unify multiple different industrial Ethernet protocols on the same network infrastructure. ■ In fact, the unprecedented level of connectivity offered byTSN extends its application beyond factory automation to asset management, predictive maintenance and other cyber-physical systems.

they should check if these solutions can offer gigabit bandwidth. The CC-Link industrial Ethernet IE TSN will address both these requirements. It is the first open industrial Ethernet technology that combines TSN compatibility with gigabit bandwidth. By choosing technologies like this, businesses can benefit from solutions that address current and upcoming connectivity needs, offering scalability and flexibility as well as future backward compatibility.

1 Source: https://avnu.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/TSN- Business-Impact-paper-FINAL.pdf

“With CC-Link IE TSN technology, it is possible to deliver smart integration from core machine control through to IT communications – on the same network. That means applications with very fast cycle times can coexist with devices using the TCP/IP protocol, for example. Simpler physical networks that are smart in operation mean easier integration and less complex support.” TSN offers automation specialists the opportunity to create flexible, converged systems for the Smart Factory of the future. With CLPA’s CC-Link IE TSN technology, device makers and end users can benefit from a technology that will provide a way to handle the mass of data that characterises Industry 4.0 applications, and the merging of IT and OT. Balluff’s commitment to CLPA technologies is further demonstrated in the fact that the company is a CLPA board member and has been involved in promoting their global acceptance. Manuel Solano of Balluff says this commitment has also benefitted the company. “We share our experiences and insights with other CLPA members, well-known in the automation industry and we have the opportunity to strengthen relationships with our customers and our competitive position.”

Electricity + Control

FEBRUARY 2020

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