Ethernet Networks for Factory Automation

A survey on the application of Ethernet at all the levels of an automated factory is presented, with special attention to the device level where the exchange of data in real time is a need. The recent enhancements giving the Ethernet networks real-time capabilities are reviewed and the typical communication profile of an Ethernet-based station is described. Then the use of Ethernet at the higher levels of the shop is illustrated and its extension to the device level is examined. A modification of the station profile to accommodate real-time protocols is explored and communication models suitable for real-time data exchange are discussed. Latest developments regarding the Ethernet networks for the device level are reported.