TSN series part 13
It's the combination that does it!
Although TSN can be used to implement cross-manufacturer and cross-platform networking, it is only in combination with 5G that end-to-end real-time communication is also possible for mobile applications and cloud connectivity.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT and a number of mechanical engineering, robotics and network technology companies have also recognized the potential of the combination of TSN and 5G. Together, they have developed a corresponding communication infrastructure with the aim of achieving highly available, reliable and secure communication from sensors and actuators to the cloud. TSN ensures real-time for wired communication, while 5G mobile technology is used for all mobile and cloud connections.
One use case is the precise control of a robot and a tool or two cooperating robots during operation. The computing processes can be outsourced to the cloud with this infrastructure, and the results are then transferred back to the system. This allows robots in highly dynamic production systems to be controlled adaptively and flexibly, even without them being directly connected to each other. This also works with existing machines and systems across all manufacturers. Numerous other scenarios also benefit from this combination - or are made possible by it in the first place; from autonomous driving and transport applications to telesurgery.
TSN for real-time Ethernet
Let's first look at TSN, a further development of standard Ethernet. Ethernet ensures data exchange between devices from different manufacturers at the IT level, i.e. in office environments. Industrial Ethernet is more robust and therefore also suitable for harsh environments. Thanks to special protocols (e.g. Ethercat, Profinet, Modbus TCP), it also offers better determinism, i.e. data packets are sent or received at predictable times and data loss is ruled out.
However, even Industrial Ethernet does not guarantee real time. To this end, the IEEE 802.1 Task Group has developed a series of sub-standards known as Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN). They define protocols for timing and time synchronization (IEEE 802.1AS) as well as for the configuration (especially IEE 802.1Qcc) and regulation of data traffic (traffic shaping and scheduling, IEE 802.1CB, IEE 802.1Qbu, IEE 802.1Qbv and others). This provides a common schedule that determines when data packets are forwarded with prioritization.
TSN does not cover all seven layers of the OSI layer model, the reference model for network protocols in which each layer defines the communication between two systems with specific tasks and functions. TSN concerns layers 1 and 2 as well as the real-time aspect, which runs vertically through the model. Additional protocols are therefore required for the higher layers. Companies can continue to use their existing standards here, such as OPC UA. These benefit from the real-time guarantee provided by TSN without having to be adapted.
Interoperability and IT/OT convergence
Thanks to open standards, TSN enables the manufacturer- and platform-independent interoperability of various devices, machines and systems, analogous to standard Ethernet at the IT level. These standard Ethernet components can be integrated into TSN; TSN thus establishes a continuous connection between the IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology) levels. Critical and non-critical systems with different traffic classes can run in the same network.
With bandwidths of 10 Gbps up to 400 Gbps - in contrast to the 100 Mbps that are common in industrial Ethernet networks - TSN also meets the requirements of ever-increasing data volumes.
So far, only some of the TSN sub-standards have been ratified and others are still in progress. Nevertheless, the existing standards can be implemented immediately; they already ensure real-time communication and can be adapted to future standards.
Real-time also wireless with 5G
With 5G, real-time capability can be extended from TSN to mobile networks across the board. 5G not only enables ultra-low latency (ULL) and precise time synchronization, but also incomparably greater reliability, range and bandwidth than its predecessor technologies with higher energy efficiency.
In addition, 5G allows the creation of private networks that are inaccessible to the public. They bring further significant gains in network performance, data protection and security, as well as a guaranteed quality of service. As a result, 5G lays the foundation for secure communication between different machines and systems, robots and components - from sensors and actuators to the cloud. When setting up a TSN network, it is therefore advisable to consider the integration of 5G at the same time in order to achieve a future-proof and scalable solution.
Integration of 5G into a TSN network
A concept from the research group at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), TU Kaiserslautern and Nokia Bell Labs (see image on the right) shows how TSN time synchronization (IEEE 802.1AS) can be integrated in compliance with 5G. The 5G system consists of a 5G base station (gNB) and a 5G core network (5GC) as well as several end devices (UE). One of these end devices (reference UE) is connected to the wired TSN network as part of the reference system. It must support IEEE 802.1AS so that it can be synchronized with the TSN time via the grandmaster.
The 5G system also has its own synchronization mechanism: each 5G base station (gNB) synchronizes the end devices networked with it using the primary (PSS) and secondary synchronization signal (SSS). The end devices also use these signals to identify their radio cell and the radio frame; together with specific synchronization algorithms, they can adjust frequency and time deviations. In addition, each incoming System Frame Number (SFN) is paired with the current time of the reference terminal device and sent to each connected terminal device. If OPC UA PubSub is used for distribution, all end devices connected to the base station can be synchronized.
Synchronization between the base station and the connected end devices means that only the offset to the corresponding TSN time needs to be identified.
Figure 2 shows the message layers. The User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is used as the transport protocol in combination with multicast. This means that every device belonging to the multicast group receives the subscribed messages.
With this setup, the research team was able to achieve a synchronicity of 350 ns between an evaluation kit and an Intel NUC Mini-PC with a synchronization interval of 31.25 ms.
Available TSN and 5G products
An excerpt of suitable products for the implementation of a TSN-5G infrastructure.
Processors and boards with TSN support
The Intel 10 nm Atom x6000E, Pentium and Celeron processors from the N and J product series integrate 2.5 GbE MACs with TSN functions. Compared to the previous generation, they offer up to 1.7 times higher single-thread performance and up to 1.5 times higher multi-thread performance as well as double the graphics performance. The UHD graphics deliver a resolution of up to 4kp60 on up to three displays simultaneously. Its Programmable Services Engine (PSE) with Arm Cortex-M7 microcontroller provides independent computing power with low DMIPs and I/Os for IoT applications. It also includes a network proxy, embedded controller and sensor hub. For remote monitoring and management or firmware and software updates from a distance, the processors have in-band functionality via WLAN or Ethernet, alternatively out-of-band management can be used via wired Ethernet.
Numerous boards from various manufacturers are available based on these Intel processors: The SMC-93 from Seco is the first SMARC module that has been specially developed for the functional safety of safety-related systems.
Advantech offers a SMARC2.1 module with up to four cores and 40% better CPU performance and improved graphics performance compared to previous models. The SOM-2532 supports two GbE LAN for TSN PHY for real-time device communication as well as USB 3.2 Gen2 and PCIe Gen3. Interesting for data-intensive applications: With CAN-FD, it enables significantly higher data transfer rates and achieves ten times the speed of user data transfer. Advantech's WISE-DeviceOn software ensures stable operation and convenient remote management of IoT devices. This makes the SOM-2532 particularly suitable for applications in automation and medical technology as well as transportation.
The 3.5-inch SBC (single-board computer) MIO-5152 from Advantech is also equipped with the latest Intel processors and Advantech's WISE-DeviceOn. It has DDR4-3200 up to 32GB integrated and offers numerous interfaces, including HDMI2.0/DP/LVDS, Dual-GbE, 4x USB3.2, 4x USB2.0, 6x UARTs and TPM.
Kontron also offers a SMARC2.1 module - SMARC-sXEL (E2), as well as two COM Express models with TSN support: COM Express mini Type 10 and COM Express Compact Type 6. All three are available in variants with Intel Atom x6000E, Pentium or Celeron and offer numerous interfaces.
A comparable board in the Thin Mini-ITX form factor is available from DFI. It is based on the Intel Atom processor of the X6000 series.
Kontron has developed a ready-to-use TSN system solution: The KBox C-102-2 TSN starter kit includes the KBox C-102-2 IPC and the PCIe-0400-TSN Gigabit Ethernet interface card with TSN support.
The quad network interfaces with switching function are based on standard Ethernet in accordance with IEEE 802.3 and enable deterministic control applications to be set up in convergent networks from the OT to the IT level without additional switches. The system comes with real-time Linux and a network management tool for fast TSN network setup. Upgradeable hardware and software make the solution open for new and further developed TSN standards. Target applications include deterministic industrial control computers and servers, converged networks for critical and non-critical traffic, and protection of deterministic traffic from malicious attacks.
5G cards, modems and antennas
A selection of hardware components for setting up a 5G campus network, including 5G cards and modems as well as antennas, are also already on the market. This includes one of the world's first available 5G solutions: Telit's FN980 5G M.2 card, which supports the LTE and 5G sub-6GHz bands worldwide.
With a form factor of 30 mm x 50 mm and a temperature range of -40 to +85 °C, it is also suitable for use in industrial environments. The FN980m variant also supports the new mmWave frequency bands above 30 GHz. Like the 5G M.2 modules in Advantech's AIW-355 family, the Telit cards are based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X55 5G chipset. Unlike Telit, however, Advantech is focusing on its own variants for Europe, North America and Japan with the AIW-355 family. Their form factor is slightly larger at 30 mm x 52 mm and the temperature range is lower at -10 to +55 °C. The 5G M.2 cards from both manufacturers have several 5G and GNSS antenna slots.
Rutronik offers various 5G antennas from 2J, AVX and PulseLarsen. The compact 5G SMD antenna W3415 from PulseLarsen covers all sub-6GHz bands (4G and 5G) with a size of only 40 mm x 7 mm x 3 mm. The ultra-wideband dipole antenna of the W3554 series from PulseLarsen is suitable for 5G applications as well as for 2G, 3G, 4G, GNSS, WiFi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, Zigbee and the ISM bands 868, 915, 2400 and 5,000 MHz with a frequency spectrum of 698 to 6,000 MHz. The PCB antenna measures just 30 mm x 120 mm x 0.2 mm.
There are also special 5G power supply units from FSP for setting up your own campus network. They are suitable for supplying base stations, access networks, data centers or individual network subscribers.
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