Proven performance and future security of PROFINET IRT

As part of its IT-powered AUTOMATION concept, Phoenix Contact uses PROFINET for communication in the field.

Overview of the results of the joint project

• At a transmission rate of 100 Mbps, the summation frame procedure, used by Ethercat, for example, has proven itself to be advantageous on the linear topologies of simple machines, but only when no more than 60 bytes of user data per device have to be transmitted.
  
  
• For data delivery via individual frames, as are used by PROFINET IRT, shorter cycle times can be realized than on systems which use the summation frame procedure, but only when the processing times in the devices are shortened, the telegram overhead is reduced and a so-called "drafting" effect can be utilized.
  
  
• The data delivery used by PROFINET IRT via individual frames profits more from an increase in the bit rate (e.g. to 1000 Mbps) than other transmission methods.

For larger amounts of user data in the branching topologies of more complex systems, the transmission method used by PROFINET IRT offers performance advantages in every case compared to the summation frame procedure. Thus, PROFINET IRT is the fastest and also the most future-proof realtime Ethernet protocol in every application.

At the Hanover Trade Fair 2008, the joint partners will present a corresponding prototype.

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