Development of TSN devices for automation control

TSN is the future of industrial Ethernet and an enabling technology to support connected industries. To tap into this new market, vendors of automation devices and machines should start to offer key TSNcompatible options now. Selecting the right development path is key to ensuring success.

TSN IS AN INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT enhances the capabilities of industrial Ethernet. It is considered the future of industrial communications, as it supports the transfer of different types of data traffic with high predictability, delivering essential determinism for time-critical control functions on the shop floor. As a result, TSN is key to supporting network convergence, ultimately enabling the merge of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) domains.

The ability to share information between the OT and IT worlds is essential to gain comprehensive, data-driven insights for smart manufacturing – and it is at the core of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The convergence offered by TSN is a must to futureproof production activities, creating highly effective connected industries.

TSN development options

Automation vendors play a key role in supporting companies in the implementation of this innovative technology. To address the current and future market needs, forward-looking device developers should begin to offer TSN-compatible products and systems quickly. By doing so they can help shape the future of industrial automation while enhancing their competitiveness.

There are numerous development methods that are theoretically available to support businesses during the creation of devices with TSN capabilities. These can be broadly divided into software- or hardwarebased alternatives and can offer distinct capabilities in terms of performance, ease of implementation, flexibility and cost.

For example, software development kits (SDKs) or stacks generally offer an economical and rapid route, however they may not be able to achieve the highest performance levels. Conversely, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) typically provide high flexibility and capabilities, but their cost may make them more suited to higher end products. Device makers should therefore identify the industrial Ethernet technology solution with the open development ecosystem that best addresses their needs. There are numerous development methods that are theoretically available to support businesses during the creation of devices with TSN capabilities. (© istock.com/ krystiannawrocki)

Consider development ecosystem

When offering a variety of products, different development methods may be necessary to meet the individual specifications or target market.

This is why it is highly beneficial for device manufacturers to rely on technologies that offer a comprehensive development ecosystem when looking at incorporating ‘the future of industrial Ethernet’ in their solutions.

In particular, this should offer both hardware and software solutions in order to address the specific needs and requirements of various applications. In effect, this flexibility can help to utilise existing products or platforms, upgrading them to offer TSN compatibility and minimising design cost and effort.

In this way, it may be possible to avoid costly development expenses while helping customers implement the technology in stages, replacing their existing components with new alternatives. Ultimately, this makes it easier for both automation vendors and end users to approach TSN and experience its benefits.

An industrial Ethernet technology with this kind of broad development ecosystem is CC-Link IE TSN. This supports both software- and hardware-based strategies for master, remote and local stations. In particular, solutions such as SDKs, dedicated integrated circuits and embedded modules are available for automation vendors. Additionally, businesses can leverage PC boards to support TSN on industrial PCs as well as specialised development options for safety applications.

By choosing CC-Link IE TSN, device manufacturers can therefore find suitable alternatives to streamline the upgrade of their existing solutions to TSN. As a result, they can quickly bring to market innovative products and systems, enhancing their own competitiveness and that of their customers.

John Browett, General Manager, CLPA

Europe.

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The goal of CC-Link IE TSN is to address industrial networking and connectivity between IT and manufacturing systems. Time-sensitive networking supported by a large community of vendors provides a solution that enhances interoperability and a rich ecosystem to support automation and control.

needs to be fed back into the plant systems to produce the desired results,” Browett said.

He added that CC-Link IE TSN offers a solution to address all these challenges. First, it provides the basis for a converged network architecture that allows different traffic types to share the same infrastructure. This makes getting the data out of the process simpler.

Second, this also facilitates OT/IT convergence, so that getting the data to edge servers and the cloud is also simplified. Finally, these architectures are bidirectional, so the derived insights can be easily fed back into the required systems. The result is the basis for increased process transparency and highly optimized operations.

New technology developments

Cyber security has become a critical area for industry over the past few years as the blurring of OT and IT has offered both opportunities and challenges. CLPA recently published an extensive set of guidelines for how CC-Link IE TSN can help companies meet the challenges of preventing unauthorized access to their systems (see https://www.cc-link.org/en/ cclink/security/pdf/en_security_guideline_ outline.html).

These explain how the network can assist with helping to maintain compliance to standards, such as IEC 62443 and ISO 27001. This is achieved by offering a variety of capabilities, such as authentication, traffic limiting and network filtering plus logging and management functions. CLPA is working with a variety of partners and other third parties, such as Belden, Cisco and HP, to introduce a range of products and systems that support these capabilities. Full details are available at https://www.cc-link.org/en/cclink/security/ pdf/en_security_compatible_products.html)

CC Link resources

CLPA also continues to offer a global network of conformance test laboratories to its partner companies. These ensure that all CLPA technology compatible products can be used with confidence by end users and OEMs alike.

They also work with our partners during the product development phase as required to make sure that the conformance testing process goes as smoothly as possible. A global network ensures maximum convenience to partners, by offering support in local time zones and languages.

This is in addition to the local support that all partners can offer on their own CLPA compatible solution offerings.

Future developments

Looking to the future, there are new areas for CC Link development and CLPA envisions continuing to make an impact on Industrial Ethernet automation and control networking.

“This is an exciting time for industrial Ethernet. TSN is one of several technologies that offer tremendous promise for the future,” Browett said. “Along with technology, we also see a greater need for cooperation between different organizations, and the CLPA has an established track record of doing this to provide better connectivity solutions. We will continue to innovate as the industry adopts new technology trends such as wireless networks. By working with our partners and other organizations, we intend to maintain our position as a technology leader with the best connectivity solutions.”

To learn more about CLPA and CC-Link IE TSN, download the white paper, “TSN – The Case for Action Now” at https://eu.cc-link. org/en/campaign/2020/tsnwp.