Developed by B&R Industrial Automation Corp., POWERLINK is a software-based communication system that delivers real-time performance.
- Well suited to all types of automation applications including I/O, Motion Control, robotics tasks, PLC-to-PLC communication and visualization
- Open source version available
- Integrates entire range of CANopen mechanisms
- Fully complies with IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard
- Protocol provides all standard Ethernet features including cross-traffic and hot plugging capability, and allows for deploying any network topology of choice
- Uses mixture of timeslot and polling procedures to achieve isochronous data transfer
- PLC or Industrial PC is designated as the Managing Node (MN) in order to ensure coordination
- MN enforces cycle timing that serves to synchronize all devices and controls cyclical data communication
- All other devices operate as Controlled Nodes (CN)
- During course of one clock cycle MN sends “Poll Requests” to one CN after another in a fixed sequence and Every CN replies immediately with a “Poll Response” on which all other nodes can listen in
- Cycle consists of three periods
- During “Start Period” MN sends a “Start of Cycle” (SoC) frame to all CNs to synchronize devices
- Cyclic isochronous data exchange takes place during the second period (Cyclic Period)
- Multiplexing allows for optimized bandwidth use in this phase
- Third period marks start of the asynchronous phase, which enables transfer of large, non-time-critical data packets, which is scattered between the asynchronous phases of several cycles
- Distinguishes between real-time and non-real-time domains
- Routers separate data safely and transparently from real-time domains because data transfer in asynchronous period supports standard IP frames
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