Technical Overview
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EtherCAT is a high-performance, low-cost, easy-to-apply, and topologically flexible industrial Ethernet technology. It was introduced to the market in 2003 and became an international standard in 2007. The EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) promotes EtherCAT technology and is responsible for its continued research and development. EtherCAT is also an open technology: it allows anyone to implement or apply it.
Operating Mechanism
The key working principle of EtherCAT lies in how its nodes handle Ethernet data frames: during the transmission of data frames downstream, each node reads the data addressed to it and writes its feedback data back into the data frame. This transmission method improves bandwidth utilization, allowing each cycle to typically achieve data communication with just one data frame, while the network does not require switches or hubs.
Network Performance
EtherCAT’s unique way of processing frames makes it the fastest industrial Ethernet technology; no other technology can achieve higher bandwidth utilization or corresponding performance than EtherCAT.
Flexible Topology
In addition to its speed advantages, an EtherCAT network can support up to 65,535 devices, regardless of their placement in the topology: linear, bus, tree, star—or any combination. The fast Ethernet physical layer allows a maximum distance of 100 meters (330 feet) between two devices, and using fiber optics can extend the distance even further. EtherCAT also has other features that provide further topological flexibility, such as hot connection, hot swapping, and redundancy achieved through ring networks.
Multi-Functional
EtherCAT is suitable for both centralized and decentralized system architectures. It can support master-slave, master-master, and slave-slave communications, as well as communication with subordinate field buses. At the factory level, communication is covered by the EtherCAT Automation Protocol—fully based on existing network infrastructure.
Easy to Use
Compared to traditional fieldbus systems, EtherCAT is the obvious choice: node addresses can be automatically configured, no network debugging is required, and integrated diagnostic information can precisely locate errors. Despite these advantages, EtherCAT is easier to use than other industrial Ethernet technologies: no need to configure switches, no need to deal with complicated MAC or IP addresses.
Multi-Functional
EtherCAT is suitable for both centralized and decentralized system architectures. It can support master-slave, master-master, and slave-slave communications, as well as communication with subordinate field buses. At the factory level, communication is covered by the EtherCAT Automation Protocol—fully based on existing network infrastructure.
Easy to Use
Compared to traditional fieldbus systems, EtherCAT is the obvious choice: node addresses can be automatically configured, no network debugging is required, and integrated diagnostic information can precisely locate errors. Despite these advantages, EtherCAT is easier to use than other industrial Ethernet technologies: no need to configure switches, no need to deal with complicated MAC or IP addresses.
Low Cost
EtherCAT provides all the advantages of industrial Ethernet at the cost of fieldbus. How is this achieved? First, EtherCAT requires no active infrastructure components. Master devices do not need special plug-in cards, while slave devices can use highly integrated low-cost chips provided by multiple suppliers. Additionally, expensive IT experts are not needed for network debugging or system maintenance.
Industrial Ethernet
EtherCAT also supports common Internet technologies without affecting the real-time performance of the network. The “Ethernet over EtherCAT” protocol can transmit FTP, http, and TCP/IP.
Functional Safety
“Safety over EtherCAT” is as refined and fast as EtherCAT itself. Functional safety is directly established in the bus and can choose centralized or decentralized safety logic. By using the “Black Channel” method, it is also applicable to other bus systems.
Open Technology
EtherCAT is an internationally standardized open technology, meaning anyone can use it in a compatible way for free. However, being an open technology does not mean that anyone can arbitrarily modify EtherCAT to meet his/her needs, as this would lose its interoperability. The EtherCAT Technology Association, the world’s largest fieldbus organization, is responsible for further improvements to EtherCAT technology in the future, thus maintaining its openness and interoperability.
Proven Technology
EtherCAT is currently widely used in various fields around the world. EtherCAT is extensively applied in machine control, measurement equipment, medical devices, automotive and mobile devices, as well as countless embedded systems.
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