EtherCAT (Ethernet for Control Automation Technology)
is the Ethernet fieldbus that provides industry leading performance, flexibility and cost advantages. The functional principle - processing data on the fly - makes EtherCAT the fastest system currently available: cycle times of a few µs are possible. The nodes can be synchronized with highest precision. The wiring flexibility of EtherCAT is outstanding, too: arbitrary network topologies are supported, with any number of nodes in line.
EtherCAT is the only hard real-time Industrial Ethernet solution that does not require dedicated hardware for the MainDevice (e.g. MAC with communication coprocessor) but can be implemented in software on any Ethernet controller. The SubDevice Controller chips are inexpensive, too. Switches are not needed. This leads to cost advantages in controllers,
devices and infrastructure - even compared with legacy fieldbus systems.
EtherCAT is completely transparent for all Internet technologies and thus supports the vertical integration in mixed networks.
Register now if you want to learn about EtherCAT and the challenges
of Industrial Ethernet, especially in the context of TSN and cybersecurity.
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