ESANA: Echtzeit-Ethernet für die Sensor/Aktorvernetzung

Due to the continuous use of Ethernet in Industrial Automation technology (AT) cost reductions in the planning, commissioning and maintenance of networked automation systems are expected. One of the protagonists motivation for using Ethernet at the plant floor is to participate in the exciting development of Standard Ethernet. To use Ethernet at the field level of plants or machines, extensions of  Standard Ethernet are necessary. Currently there are several real-time Ethernet concepts (RTE) under discussion or in the phase of market deployment. A promising approach is Profinet. One objective of this publicly funded project is to analyse the future potential of today's real-time Ethernet systems regarding perfomance.

We are also looking for new approaches to overcome any deficiencies of the Profinet-Technology in terms of performance and simplicity, especially at the field level of machines or plants.

In a press workshop of the Profibus Nutzerorganisation (PNO) in November 2007 first results of the analysis phase were presented.

At the hanover fair 2008 we presented our new optimization mechanism for increasing the performance of PROFINET at the booth of the PNO organization.

The final Report comes up soon.