Performance-optimized adaptable transmission cycles <32 µs.

© CLPA Europe

The CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA) and Mitsubishi Electric Japan have looked at the different progress in America and Europe and then reflected on the Japanese virtue of kaizen, improvement in small steps. The TSN specifications are still being developed, but CC-Link IE TSN has already been developed on the basis of the existing standard publications. CC-Link IE is therefore based on the TSN platform and can implement future standardization steps accordingly.

The allocation of network usage for various participants.

© CLPA Europe

The further development of the existing CC-Link IE also ensures compatibility with the CC-Link fieldbus. CC-Link IE TSN as the successor to the industrial CC-Link IE not only supports the transmission rate of 1 Gigabit/s, but also existing systems with 100 Mbit/s. This means that a wide range of applications, from fast servo and robot communication to process data acquisition and safety applications, can communicate with each other without any loss of performance and all data is available transparently for further processing. A wide variety of communication protocols and enterprise applications are supported. Network usage is divided into time slices, enabling various protocols to communicate in parallel on one Ethernet connection. This 'time-sharing method' is carried out and controlled by the TSN master. This avoids the problems of existing testbeds and the advantages of TSN can already be used today, before the final standardization. Profinet, OPC UA, Ethercat, Ethernet IP and other networks can be used together with CC Link IE TSN.

Further advantages of CC-Link IE TSN and TSN: standard network maintenance and diagnostic tools can already be used. This also applies to network security applications. Employees do not have to familiarize themselves with new technologies and they can use the familiar, cost-effective IT diagnostics options. The synchronized time stamping of the data ensures improved error evaluation and the 'big data analysis' can access and optimize general data streams and the industrial Ethernet via the same infrastructure using the large bandwidth.

The smallest time slice for CC Link IE TSN can be less than 32 µs. Time slices with different execution times can be parameterized. This time management is currently still open in the standardization of TSN.
The exciting question now is: How quickly will the standardization be implemented and how quickly will the different perspectives that still exist between Europe and America and among the different providers of communication technologies be harmonized? The TSN, OPC UA and Industry 4.0 organizations are already working closely together on this topic. With the implementation of the TSN standard, we are a big step closer to the end-to-end value chains of Industry 4.0 for new business models. CLPA, Mitsubishi Electric and other major manufacturers of automation solutions are committed to TSN and OPC UA, making it easier for their customers to make the right decision when it comes to communication technology. CC-Link IE TSN is backwards compatible so that customers can continue to use their existing Ethernet infrastructures.

According to Takayuki Tsuzuki, General Manager Factory Automation Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, the next step in this digitalization journey will be as follows: "Mitsubishi Electric welcomes the joint activities aimed at defining a new standard for field level communication for OPC UA. We believe that TSN technology will become the mainstream of future industrial networks. Mitsubishi Electric will contribute to the development of the FA industry by actively participating in the definition of a new standard. "

It is up to customers to influence the manufacturers of controllers, sensors and actuators to integrate TSN and also OPC UA. The more requests there are in this regard, the faster the suppliers will react.

Authors:
Thomas Lantermann is Senior Business Development Manager EMEA, Factory Automation, Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V.;
Peter Dabringhaus is Business Development Manager DACH & Benelux, CC-Link Partner Association.