The SERCOS Controller-to-Controller (C2C) Profile specification for interconnecting distributed controls in modular machines and systems was released at Hannover Fair 2006. A live demonstration with the first device implementations of this C2C profile was presented at the joint booth of the Interests Group SERCOS interface.The product spectrum for SERCOS III continues to increase and currently includes over 20 innovative products. Additional companies have announced they will support and implement SERCOS III as a universal real-time interface.
The first users, e.g., Schuler – one of the technological and global market leaders in the metalforming field, are already successfully applying SERCOS III solutions.The SERCOS safety concept, which allows a safe data transfer based on SERCOS interface, was approved by TÜV Rheinland in December 2005 and can now be implemented in SERCOS devices. TÜV Rheinland is an international technical service provider that evaluates, tests and certifies the safety and quality of products.
SERCOS safety is a protocol extension that is compatible with the established transmission mechanisms of the SERCOS interface. Thus, the SERCOS interface can be used within safety applications up to SIL 3 (Safety Integrity Level) according to IEC61508, even with the shortest cycle times. A working group is intensively developing an extended device profile for I/Os, based on the existing SERCOS communication protocol. Modular I/O devices with bus couplers as well as block I/Os are to be supported. The SERCOS I/O specification will be available by mid-2006.
