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Fieldbus system works on standard Ethernet

A Pilz Automation Technology product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 3, 2008

RTFL Safety Net p provides real-time communication in highly dynamic applications where a guaranteed scan time of 62.5us or less is required.

Pilz' SafetyBus p is a safe, open fieldbus system that is often used alongside other networks so that safety data and other data are not transmitted on the same physical cable.

In machine safety applications SafetyBus p offers fast reaction times and excellent diagnostics.

Alternatively, SafetyBus p can be used for applications in which a longer reaction time is acceptable but where transmission over longer distances is required - such as cable cars.

Elsewhere, SafetyBus p has been used in projects as diverse as automotive production lines, cyclotrons and steelworks.

High integrity was designed into SafetyBus p from the outset, so today SafetyBus p is approved for: Category 4 in accordance with EN 954-1; SIL 3 to IEC 61508; AK 6 (Class 6) of DIN V 19250; and NFPA 79.

SafetyBus p meets the EMC requirements of the ESPE standard EN 61496-1 and is the first safety-related SEMI standard for sensor bus technology in the semiconductor industry to be incorporated into the E54 suite of standards.

Pilz has developed Pilz has developed SafetyNet p for safety-related communications based on standard Ethernet.

Two speed classes of SafetyNet p have been created.

RTFN (real-time frame network) suits fieldbus class communication and networking individual production cells with processing cycles of approximately 1ms.

RTFL (real-time frame line) provides real-time communication in highly dynamic applications where a guaranteed scan time of 62.5us or less is required, such as for high-speed filling and packaging machinery, or where servo drives or robots need to be networked.

Both speed classes are compatible with each other.

Users can create linear, star or tree topologies, or any hybrid of these.

Unlike SafetyBus p, which physically separates the safety data from the other data, with SafetyNet p safety-related data and standard control (nonsafety) data are physically mixed but logically separated.

When SafetyNet p is implemented, each device has a real-time clock with interrupt function to ensure a rapid reaction to time-critical events.

In very fast process cycles and distributed real-time applications, information processing is therefore synchronous and the system is guaranteed to respond in a precisely definable time.

Existing SafetyBus p installations can co-exist with and be connected to a SafetyNet p network.

Other industrial Ethernet systems such as Profinet, Ethernet/IP and EtherCat can also be connected to SafetyNet p, as can any Ethernet-compatible device, such as a PC, camera, printer or display.

Because SafetyNet p is based on Ethernet, it can also be used as a platform for IP-based utilities such as e-mail, the internet or streaming.

Between them, SafetyBus p and SafetyNet p are suitable for a vast array of safety-related applications.

In addition, however, Pilz has developed InduraNet p (Industrial Radio Network), a wireless system for nonsafety communications in industrial environments.

Anywhere that a cable-based nonsafety communication link is difficult, expensive or impractical to install, InduraNet p can help.

Typical applications include automated guided vehicles, automated warehousing, robotic palletisers, cranes and other moving machinery.

A key feature of InduraNet p is that the communication technology is especially hardened to ensure reliable communications in industrial environments.

In part this is due to an innovative antenna design that guarantees a constant, high-quality connection under all application conditions.

InduraNet p also benefits from intelligent frequency management, known as co-existence frequency management (CFM), which means it can co-exist with other wireless services in the 2.4GHz ISM band, with high immunity to interference from services such as DECT, UMTS or GSM.

Initially InduraNet p is available for implementing with a Pilz PSSuniversal I/O and control platform by means of convertor modules.

One basestation can communicate with up to four remote stations and there is no need for users to be aware of the wireless connection, as the view of the process I/O image remains the same.