SERCOS interface

Abstract: The paper presents a review of the main communication protocols relating to industrial applications of electrical drives. In the factory automation context, drives are increasingly considered as intelligent actuators which require to exchange amount of data both mutually and with a supervising unit in order to improve the process quality. The protocols here considered are relevant either because of their diffusion in specific market areas (Profibus, FIP), or due to their specific design tailored to the drives (CAN bus, SERCOS). After a classification of the different networks, according to serial point-to-point or multipoint connection, the single protocols are reviewed in detail, by considering the most significant features from the point of view of the drive producer and user and showing how they can affect the control performances of the drives. In conclusion a comprehensive comparison table is reported for quick reference.

Abstract: The SERCOS interface originated in the mid-1980s, as a result of the initiative of the German organisations ZVEI (Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association) and VDW (Automotive Industry Organisation). The industry consortium formed at that time designed an open interface to convert analogue drive technology to digital. The first generation of the SERCOS supported transfer rates of 2 and 4 Mbit/s and at first was primarily used for demanding machine tool applications. In 1995, it was accepted as IEC 61491. The second generation of the SERCOS followed in 1999. The transfer rate was increased to 8 and 16 Mbit/s and the service channel, used for the transfer of asynchronous data, was expanded. The SERCOS interface has revolutionised whole machine-building industries. Though its original concept was simply as a drive interface, today the SERCOS interface is known as a universal "motion control" interface. The SERCOS interface not only defines a real-time communication system, it specifies over 400 standardised parameters that describe the collaboration of controls and drives with semantics that cover any manufacturer's products. The SERCOS interest group will combine SERCOS interface mechanisms with the advantages of Ethernet structure.

Abstract: Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) is becoming more important in automotive and industrial sectors. There is no clear strategy how to use TSN to improve and migrate the established real-time protocols without excluding legacy devices. This paper presents a realistic concept to integrate TSN into automation networks. We choose Sercos as a deterministic Industrial-Ethernet protocol to be extended with the TSN Standards IEEE 802.1AS-Rev and IEEE 802.1Qbv. By simulating the Sercos over TSN network, we investigate the impact of integrating a TSN-capable switch in a Sercos network to enable a topology extension from line/ring to star/tree. By comparing the impact of: increasing the data rate and topology extension, we demonstrate the improvement of Industrial-Ethernet timing performance.

Abstract: This paper presents a survey of the applications of real-time network control technology to advanced digital motion control system. Applications of PROFIBUS, FIP, CAN bus, Interbus-S, SERCOS, and Ethernet to coordinated motion control have been studied. Realization issues in application of real-time network control for motor drives and coordinated motion control systems are discussed. Future development trend of real-time network for motion control has been forecasted.