PROFINET: An integration platform for heterogeneous industrial communication systems

Ethernet has become so popular that it has also been further developed for use at field level in automation technology under realtime conditions. However for reasons of function and investment protection, the introduction of realtime Ethernet in automation solutions is likely to be a gradual process. Suitable solutions for the integration of existing fieldbus technology into the realtime Ethernet network are therefore required. This paper describes two possible integration concepts of the PROFINET IO realtime Ethernet standard using INTERBUS and PROFIBUS as an example. It shows that it is possible, despite very different device models of the considered fieldbus systems, to implement a high level of integration.