Real Time Industrial Ethernet Communication for the PC

By Autonetics — In Factory Automation, Software — July 17, 2019

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Traditionally, automation equipment is controlled by a PLC – the logic brain of a system that handles the flow of operation, processes I/O, and communicates with other networked equipment.

The majority of Autonetics’ products are controlled by an industrial PC (IPC). We eschew the traditional route of a PLC to harness the additional computing power and flexibility a modern PC offers.

One hurdle that must be overcome when using an IPC for industrial Ethernet applications is the need for real-time communications. While Microsoft Windows offers familiarity and ease-of-use to a wide range of users, it lacks real-time network communications. A data stream from a networked device may stream data at a fixed interval for a while, but Windows can decide to interrupt that process at any time, without notice.

To overcome this hurdle, Autonetics offers a real-time Industrial Ethernet package via the PCI bus.

Our Windows-based applications communicate, in real-time, with any industrial Ethernet technology. This allows our systems to seamlessly operate as an IO device within a customers industrial network.

Industrial Networking Technologies Supported

  • Profinet

  • EtherNet/IP

  • Modbus-TCP

  • EtherCAT

  • Powerlink

Autonetics has recently received certification from the Profibus organization for its PC-based Profinet IRT communication technology.

Contact Autonetics today to learn more about this exciting technology.