SUPPLEMENT Robotics and Automation 2023
IO-Link master with OPC UA interface for seamless fi eld to cloud exchange
IO-Link master with OPC UA interface for seamless exchange from field to cloud. Pepperl+Fuchs will be at the Robotics and Automation event between the 28th and 29th of March at the NEC, Birmingham
P
lants, products and systems are becoming increasingly networked, resulting in a major eff ort to set machine-to-machine (M2M)
communication standards. In recent years, one such standard has already established itself on the market: OPC UA. This cross- vendor, open architecture is designed for information exchange in industrial communication. In addition to M2M communication, the technology supports data and information exchange between machines and higher-level systems in Industry 4.0 environments. Pepperl+Fuchs presents the world’s fi rst IO-Link master with an OPC UA interface that combines the architecture’s benefi ts in one device.
Seamless communication OPC UA, short for Open Platform Communications Unifi ed Architecture, enables a platform-independent, interoperable and cross-vendor collaboration of machines in production and makes communication between machines and systems possible – both in closed networks and via internet. OPC UA is more than just a communication protocol because the architecture also includes data models and interaction concepts. The
6 March 2023 | Automation
interface is also scaleable, which makes it suitable for both small- and large-scale infrastructures and supports use with mobile devices. OPC UA is based on standards and guidelines that must be followed for compliant use of OPC UA communication. This way, the technology helps make processes in plants even more effi cient while ensuring a seamless information exchange across all levels.
Cloud- and PLC-based support For the fi rst time, Pepperl+Fuchs has incorporated OPC UA into IO-Link masters and is now introducing the ICE 2 (EtherNet/IP) and ICE3 (PROFINET) master series in addition to the ICE1 masters that are used for PLC-based systems and time-critical applications. Both new IO-Link master series come with an OPC UA interface and a real-time fi eldbus protocol, making them an ideal solution for cloud-based applications that are less time-sensitive. With a completely web- based confi guration concept that does not require additional software, they exemplify effi cient commissioning and are an optimal solution for standalone applications with no superior PLC. All module settings can be
saved as a separate fi le, so the confi guration can be easily transferred to a new device (module cloning).
Simultaneous, interference-free communication via OPC UA and Ethernet- based fi eldbus protocols also makes hybrid systems possible. In these cases, a PLC coordinates all time-sensitive applications and processes, while less time-sensitive, aggregated condition data is transferred to the cloud. Because of the MultiLink protocol, users can simultaneously access the device via the PLC and the cloud.
Highlights of the system • Cross-vendor, platform-independent exchange of information (M2M communication);
• Flexible solution for both cloud-based and hybrid systems with a combination of PLC and cloud;
• Completely web-based confi guration concept for user-friendly commissioning; • Module cloning function enables easy device replacement and plant expansion.
CONTACT:
Pepperl+Fuchs
www.pepperl-fuchs.com
automationmagazine.co.uk
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