IO-Link and Single Pair Ethernet
Competition or cooperation?
Single Pair Ethernet enables the transmission of Ethernet data via just one pair of wires and therefore promises to connect sensors directly to Ethernet communication. In this respect, SPE is moving into the traditional territory of the IO-Link standard.
Will there be competition, coexistence or even cooperation between the two technologies? Four points of view.
Low costs versus long distances
IO-Link is cost-effective thanks to standard sensor cables, whereas SPE enables the transmission of larger data volumes over longer distances. Sonja Armbruster, Product Manager Industrial Communication at Pepperl+Fuchs, and Hartmut Lindenthal, responsible for IO-Link technology, explain the background.
Hartmut Lindenthal: "IO-Link will also have a right to exist alongside SPE in the long term."
© Pepperl+FuchsWhy do we still need IO-Link if SPE is generally available?
Hartmut Lindenthal: IO-Link was originally intended to enable a transition from binary signal transmission to digital communication - with the existing standard cabling. In addition, the supply of sensors and actuators was created via just one connecting cable. Together with the relatively low cost of the interface and backwards compatibility with existing sensor/actuator connections, this formed the basis for a wide variety of devices. The simple integration into superimposed systems without network management and IP address assignment is another advantage of IO-Link. In the future, SPE could provide important added value for some types of devices, namely where costs play a secondary role and larger amounts of data need to be transmitted.
Sonja Armbruster: "IO-Link is a cost-optimized interface that enables problem-free system integration."
© Pepperl+FuchsIn your opinion, what are the advantages and disadvantages of a connection via IO-Link and via SPE?
Sonja Armbruster: IO-Link is a cost-optimized interface that allows problem-free system integration. Unshielded standard cables can be used for data transmission via IO-Link. Mixed operation - IO-Link/standard I/O mode - is possible, and Port Class B is available for actuators.
SPE, on the other hand, allows cable lengths of up to 1000 meters and multidrop operation. This is IP-based communication; IP-based protocols such as http are made accessible.
IO-Link over SPE as an extension of IO-Link
SPE cannot replace IO-Link, but it can usefully complement it - and ultimately both standards can benefit from each other. Dr. Elmar Büchler, Strategic Marketing Industry Manager at Balluff, provides more information.
Dr. Elmar Büchler, Balluff: "IO-Link over SPE could be a very useful extension to the existing IO-Link system."
© BalluffWhy do you think it is so important that IO-Link continues to exist in the future?
Dr. Elmar Büchler: Our aim is not to replace IO-Link, but to extend it with a new interface where it makes sense. We attach great importance to the existing IO-Link integration standards such as IO-Link Device Description - IODD for short - and will keep compatibility at the forefront of our technical considerations.
Can IO-Link and SPE cross-fertilize each other?
Various use cases are currently being developed, examined and evaluated. IO-Link over SPE could be a very useful extension of the existing IO-Link system. There are both IO-Link applications and individual devices that could benefit from the higher performance of SPE. For example, IO-Link signals could be transmitted over the specified limit of 20 meters or the requirements for IO-Link communication in explosion-protected areas could be met using SPE 10Base-TL1 and APL. IO-Link still remains IO-Link, and integration into higher-level systems would also remain the same.
'Both ... as well' instead of 'either ... or'
Whether IO-Link or SPE is used in the future will be decided by the specific application - both technologies have their specific strengths. Aurel Buda, Head of Product Management Factory Automation Systems at Turck, comments.
Aurel Buda, Turck: "For us, SPE is an ideal addition to the existing and widely used IO-Link and standard Ethernet technologies."
© TurckWhat role do you think IO-Link will play in the SPE era?
Aurel Buda: From Turck 's point of view, the question of 'either-or' does not arise. IO-Link is a widely established technology that is hard to beat in terms of price/performance. SPE, on the other hand, is a collective term for numerous technologies - such as Ethernet with low or high data rates, over short but also very long distances, or intrinsically safe Ethernet. For Turck, SPE is an ideal addition to the existing and widely used IO-Link and standard Ethernet technologies. Depending on the respective application, the requirements of our customers can be met even better in the future.
In which applications do you see IO-Link being used in future, and in which SPE?
IO-Link is a cost-efficient technology for a focused area of application, more precisely for the robust transmission of 32 bytes of process data over unshielded cables up to 20 meters. Smooth integration into all higher-level OT and IT systems is guaranteed.
Whether SPE can beat IO-Link in this discipline remains to be seen in practice. However, SPE covers significantly more use cases, such as intrinsically safe Ethernet and higher data rates. At the application layer, both IO-Link and Industrial Ethernet such as Profinet or Ethernet/IP can be implemented on SPE. Using the Industrial Ethernet protocols will improve integration and configuration in the engineering systems.
However, it is important to remember that direct control connections via Industrial Ethernet come at a price. You will not have to pay this price with IO-Link over SPE. We are firmly convinced that SPE technology will find its permanent place in industrial automation. This is one of the reasons why Turck is also supporting the standardization within the IO-Link community, the PNO and the ODVA.
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