EtherCAT

Ethernet for control automation technology (EtherCAT) is a high-performance Ethernetbased fieldbus system. Its main development goal was to apply Ethernet to automation applications, which require short cycle times and low communication jitters. EtherCAT is nowadays a popular solution for connecting control applications to field devices in industrial environments, including motion-control applications, and communication equipment and devices can be easily found off-the-shelf. The EtherCAT protocol is an open standard currently managed by the EtherCAT technology group (ETG). Its specification has been recently integrated into the international fieldbus standards IEC 61158 and IEC 61784. EtherCAT is based on a master/slave approach (where only one master is allowed in the network) and relies on a ring topology at the physical level. It can interoperate with both common TCP/IP-based networks and other Ethernet-based solutions, such as EtherNet/IP or PROFInet.