Industrial Communication with Fieldbus and Ethernet

The outcome of the debate on fieldbus technology is widely known: a plurality of varying fieldbuses, registered as international standards and established on the market: CANopen, PROFIBUS, INTERBUS, DeviceNet, Modbus, or CC-Link are some of them. When communication systems based on Ethernet came out in industrial communication, the world did not get easier. Again, a plurality of varying systems was established, based more or less on Standard Ethernet, known from office applications and internet. Well-known representatives of industrial Ethernet are e.g. PROFINET, EtherNet IP, EtherCAT, POWERLINK, sercos III, or CC-Link IE. Where are the differences of the varying fieldbus and industrial Ethernet systems? What are the benefits and user-specific advantages? Will industrial Ethernet substitute the fieldbus systems? How can fieldbus and Ethernet interfaces be integrated in automation devices easily and economically? Are today´s Ethernet standards well-engineered or should one expect further developments? This book, originated in cooperation with the HMS academy, will give you answers to the most relevant questions and will help you classifying the systems. CD-ROM: The included CD-ROM contains several continuative documents like white papers, specifications, system descriptions, and comprehensive brochures, which have been made available by associations, organizations, and companies.