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Innovations for PROFINET
Siemens offers users a broad spectrum of innovative automation and drive products for PROFINET. In addition to new products with PROFINET interfaces, new developments also focus on expanding PROFINET functionality.
Easy and automatic implementation of configuration
One of the innovations is automatic addressing of peripheral devices for commissioning. In this case, the I/O device is configured as usual as part of the hardware configuration process in SIMATIC STEP 7, and the device cabling is specified in the topology editor as the desired topology. After the data have been downloaded into the I/O controller, the configured and connected devices are automatically initialized and data are exchanged. This simplifies commissioning, especially for configurations that occur frequently, as in series machine manufacture or large systems with several PROFINET I/O nodes. Thanks to this function, replacing a device is also very straightforward, because devices such as SIMATIC ET 200 can easily be replaced for maintenance or in the event of a fault. The user simply plugs in the new device, and the parameter data for the device are defined automatically by the controller during start-up.
PROFINET with isochronous real time (IRT):
New functions for complex automation systems
PROFINET with IRT, which has been available since mid-2008 for high-end SIMATIC applications, enables reliable operation of fast processes. Process data and standard Ethernet data with a high data volume can now be transferred to a network without influencing the process data. Moreover, machine and system structures can be realized with numerous nodes interconnected on a linear basis with very short update times. IRT-compatible devices also guarantee reduced throughput times (30 percent). The real-time (RT) feature is available for standard applications in all SIMATIC controllers.
The Fast Start-Up (FSU) function makes it possible to start PROFINET I/O devices within less than one second in conjunction with SIMATIC controllers. For instance, it optimizes the time required for coupling robot applications. This makes it quicker to change the tools on a robot in a body shop, for example.
In addition, the integrated Web server for PROFINET controllers from the SIMATIC product line offers new, easy-to-use diagnostic functions, such as displaying the condition of components and the topology of PROFINET and PROFIBUS field devices linked to the system. Certain Web sites, such as those showing variable status and tables, as well as component condition, are automatically updated.