Motion profile boosts industrial Ethernet standard

An ODVA product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 19, 2006

The CIP Motion Drive Profile establishes the technical foundation for the implementation of multi-axis, synchronised motion control on EtherNet/IP.

ODVA has published the CIP Motion Drive Profile in the latest edition of the EtherNet/IP Specification (Edition 1.2).

The CIP Motion Drive Profile establishes the technical foundation for the implementation of multi-axis, synchronised motion control on EtherNet/IP, the world's most developed, proven and complete industrial Ethernet protocol.

The CIP Motion Drive Profile supports a range of drive types from variable frequency drives to high performance servo drives.

It adheres to the EtherNet/IP network architecture which incorporates the Common Industrial Protocol, the TCP/IP Suite and IEEE Ethernet standards.

This network architecture allows users to deploy a standard Ethernet switched infrastructure and ensures their installations using EtherNet/IP will be compatible with future Ethernet and EtherNet/IP enhancements.

"The CIP Motion technology represents a significant technological advancement for users of network communications in the factory floor and applications requiring deterministic, real-time, closed loop motion control", states Katherine Voss, Executive Director of ODVA.

"CIP Motion stands alone as the single industrial Ethernet solution using standard, unmodified Ethernet that can support as many as 100 axes in as little time as 1ms".

CIP Motion provides a single network solution that delivers both the motion performance and the flexibility in network architecture needed by heavy users of motion controls systems in industries such as packaging and automotive.

As a result, users will benefit from a streamlined network architecture with lower system cost and improved system performance.

Furthermore, it allows other types of devices, such as distributed I/O or HMIs, to be integrated with motion controllers and drives onto a single network.

Networks, in general, allow users of motion control systems to realise benefits on many levels - system performance, reduced wiring, ease of configuration and improved reliability.

As a single network solution, EtherNet/IP with CIP Motion allows users to realise all of these benefits plus eliminate the increased costs and complexity of special purpose motion networks and achieve seamless integration of motion systems with the plant and the enterprise.

Also released by ODVA this latest edition of the EtherNet/IP Specification is CIP Sync.

CIP Sync consists of a Time Sync object and associated services that allows users to synchronise devices, including motion axes, using "time".

This synchronisation method provides a more flexible and scalable network architecture, ideal for large-scale motion systems.

It is not restricted by many of the constraints imposed by event-based or time-sliced implementations.

If required to meet application demands, CIP Sync can achieve clock synchronisation between devices of +/-100ns.

CIP Sync is also fully compliant with the IEEE1588 standard "Precision clock synchronisation protocol for networked measurement and control systems".

The development of the CIP Motion specification enhancements is conducted by the ODVA Distributed Motion Joint Special Interest Group and consists of participants from leading motion control suppliers including Bosch Rexroth, Rockwell Automation and Yaskawa.

"Users can expect future specification enhancements to CIP Motion for a controller profile and peer-to-peer functionality", states Steve Zoncic, Chairman of the Group.

"These future developments will expand the application coverage of CIP to include motion applications such as electronic line-shafting and camming".

ODVA expects to see vendors start offering EtherNet/IP products compliant with the CIP Motion Drive Profile in 2007.