EtherCAT Technology Group announces vendor-independent diagnosis interface

December 5, 2018 –The EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) has specified a vendor-independent diagnosis interface, which allows third-party tools to access diagnostic information from EtherCAT networks. The software-based interface can be implemented in controllers offered by any device manufacturer, which makes it an interesting feature to vendors of both master devices and diagnostic tools.
Diagnosis is one of the most important functions of a modern fieldbus system. EtherCAT provides extensive diagnostic information both at the hardware and software levels. An EtherCAT feature is the ability to not only detect errors but also to locate them. This includes bit errors as well as issues generated by loose connectors. The corresponding error counters are supported by all network slave devices.. Furthermore, diagnostic routines test the quality of the communication and help easily detect internal errors in slaves, wrong cabling order, damaged cables or EMC interference.
ETG has specified this vendor-independent diagnosis interface so that third-party diagnostic tools can work with any master implementation. No hardware changes are necessary, since an EtherCAT master is software-based, as is the interface.
The standardized interface allows access to EtherCAT network diagnostic information for both hardware and software. Through the information provided by this interface, diagnostic tools or HMIs can retrieve the EtherCAT network topology information, compare it with the expected configuration and detect communication interruptions and disturbances, as well as unexpected state changes.
The specification ETG.1510 “Profile for Master Diagnosis Interface” enhances the “EtherCAT Master Classes” specification and extends the EtherCAT Master Object Dictionary already defined in the “Modular Device Profile” specification. Likewise, the access mechanism makes use of the already specified Mailbox Gateway functionality.

Check out our free e-newsletters
to read more great articles.
MORE RESOURCES
-
ODVA announces enhancements to EtherNet/IP Specification
The published enhancements to The EtherNet/IP Specification outline integration of NAMUR NE 107 diagnostics for process automation into CIP...
-
IDTechEx Report: Autonomous cars could accout for 4 trillion miles of road travel by 2040
IDTechEx has recently seen competitors joining hands and forming some unlikely-sounding alliances to reduce the cost of autonomous driving...
-
Phoenix Contact releases firmware 2.05.1 for TC Router product range
The TC Router permits remote access to SCADA networks and control systems over the cellular network. Since these networks typically involve...
-
VDMA OPC Machine Vision Initiative and OPC UA Foundation announce OPC UA demonstrator
As part of a joint project, members of the VDMA OPC Machine Vision Initiative together with the OPC UA Foundation, have developed a hardware...
-
Interact Analysis releases The Low Voltage AC Motor Drives Market – 2019 report
The research shows that growth in the intralogistics and materials handling sector has led to increased demand for decentralised and motor mounted...
RELATED
-
Inside the Rise of 5G Industrial Automation Networking
By Bill Lydon, Automation.com
5G is starting to make the goal of wireless industrial automation a reality. Companies are already starting to... -
B&R and ABB announce integration of robotics and automation solutions
With the ability to offer machine flexibility and precision, merging robotics with machine control into one unified architecture will enable...
-
ABB uses swimming robots to help Australian silicon company enhance transformer inspections
Simcoa Operations sought the expertise of the local ABB Transformer Service team in Australia to perform an internal inspection for one of their...
-
Sager Electronics announces UL508A certification of Power Solutions Center in Texas
UL 508A certification is an industrial control panel directive certifying an assembly meets the standards of electrical inspection.
-
Augmented Intelligence
By Mark Howard, EU Automation
Augmented intelligence is one of the few technologies named on the Gartner Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies,...