Porque é que as ligações Ethernet são cada vez mais utilizadas nas aplicações industriais?

In the past, Ethernet was commonly used in commercial applications, but fieldbus communications are commonly used in traditional industrial applications. However, as industrial applications become more and more complex in transmitting data, fieldbuses have gradually been unable to meet the needs. At present, the use of industrial Ethernet has become a hot spot in the industrial field. In the future, industrial Ethernet will become the main form of industrial control network structure.

Why is Ethernet connectivity increasingly used in industrial applications? Because Ethernet is currently the most widely used local area network. Ethernet’s great commercial success, high awareness, and technological advancements will bring many benefits to using Ethernet for industrial applications.

Ethernet-connected factories can increase manufacturing productivity and enable more flexible and scalable manufacturing by enabling connectivity between information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) networks.

Advantages of Industrial Ethernet

1. Ethernet technology develops rapidly and is technologically advanced, which is incomparable to fieldbus.

From the perspective of transmission rate, the current transmission rate of Ethernet has reached 10Gbit/s, while the transmission rate of fieldbus is usually lower than 10Mbit/s.

2. Using Ethernet is simpler than other fieldbuses.

This is specifically reflected in the following aspects: Generally speaking, users have more or less knowledge and experience with Ethernet, which can reduce the time and financial investment required to train users; the widespread use of Ethernet technology has enabled people to accumulate a lot of relevant experience knowledge, and it is easier to solve problems when encountering them; there are many types of Ethernet products, and many related software and hardware products make Ethernet technology easy to use;

3. Ethernet products are relatively cheap.

Because the Ethernet market space is huge, Ethernet products can generally be made in relatively large quantities. Moreover, there are many product suppliers in the Ethernet market, competition is fierce, and product prices are low. Using Ethernet will reduce costs. Although commercial Ethernet products are currently low-priced, the price of industrial Ethernet products is still relatively high. If industrial Ethernet can be widely used, its cost and price will naturally decrease.

4. Easier to integrate information.

Because many enterprise LANs use Ethernet, Ethernet is also used in industrial applications, which can make the integration of information more convenient. Moreover, combining industrial networks with corporate intranets and even the Internet can make the implementation of e-commerce, electronic manufacturing, etc. more convenient.

5. Meet the requirements for flat control network structure.

Currently, the control network structure is multi-layered. The more layers there are, the more complex the system is and the more difficult it is to maintain. If industrial Ethernet is used, the functions required by the information layer network and the control layer network can be fully realized. Therefore, it may eventually be flattened into one layer, resulting in the situation of “catching them all” in Ethernet.