Industrial Communication Protocol Support
for
Arm®-based
Microcontrollers and Processors
Abstract
Industrial communication protocols connect management and control systems to factory floor equipment, enabling the continuous collection and exchange of process data. This process data is used make real-time control decisions as well as longer term process optimizations resulting in lower factory costs through increased throughput, product quality, and equipment utilization rates.
This paper provides an overview of the industrial communication protocol support options for TI's AM243x and AM64x series of Arm®-based microcontrollers (MCUs) and processors. EtherCAT®, PROFINET®, EtherNet/IP™, HSR, PRP, and TSN support options are covered.
1 Introduction
EtherCAT, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) are rapidly gaining market share in the industrial communications market due to the high bandwidth, reliability, and real-time deterministic performance. These protocols are commonly used in factory automation and control applications such as Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), motor control, robotics, factory management systems, and field sensors and actuators.
High-availability Seamless Redundancy (HSR) or Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) are high-availability Ethernet protocols that maintain network operation in the event of a node or link failure. HSR and PRP are found in networks such as the electrical grid that run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and cannot afford any downtime.
TSN is a relatively new set of IEEE 802.1 standards that add real-time, deterministic services to Ethernet networks. TSN supports factory automation and control applications as well as high-availability applications. Many believe TSN is the dominant industrial communication technology of the future.
The AM243x and AM64x series of Arm-based MCUs and processors were specifically designed to support industrial communication protocols. Both series have dual-gigabit industrial communication subsystems (ICSSG), multiple 1Gbps Ethernet ports, and multiple Arm CPU cores to support industrial communication protocols and applications such as real-time control loops.
2 Industrial Communications Terminology
Unfortunately, different protocols use different terminology to reference the two types of devices attached to a industrial network. For example, EtherCAT uses the terms main and sub-device while EtherNet/IP uses scanner and adapter. Texas Instruments (TI) uses the terms Controller and Device throughout this paper.
| Texas Instruments | Controller | Device |
| EtherCAT | Main | Sub-device |
| PROFINET | Controller | Device |
| EtherNet/IP | Scanner | Adapter |
| CC-Link | Controller | Device |
An industrial communication network typically has a single Controller whose job is to mange and control the various network Devices. Process data is continuously exchanged between the Controller and network Devices and is used to make real-time process control decisions as well as longer term process optimizations. The Controller can perform advanced analysis of the process data, utilizing machine learning algorithms or can simply issue commands based on simple analog or digital feedback from the field Devices. An example of an advanced Controller function is multi-axis motion planning of a robotic arm whose motion is controlled via multiple servo motors (Devices).
From a hardware perspective, Controllers run on standard compliant Ethernet ports while Devices typically require special Ethernet hardware.
Figure 2-1 Example Network Showing Both Controller and Devices