Ethernet Applications in Industrial Digital Transformation

The Evolution of Digital Surveillance in Factories

Production facilities in the industrial sector have long relied on digital data for monitoring and control. Large-scale networks, including factories, commercial buildings, and data centers, are gradually extending their digital information networks into the physical world. Physical measurements, such as pressure, temperature, proximity, and light, are converted into digital information for system processing. The final result is reflected in the physical operation of equipment, such as valves, fans, and indicators.

Digitization of Sensors and Network Edge

At the network edge, sensors (such as temperature, pressure, and light) convert measurements from the physical world into processable digital information, which is used to perform physical actions. These operations don't demand a lot of data but require simple wiring and easy installation. The 10BASE-T1S Ethernet technology, specially developed for such applications, introduces an Ethernet architecture into these simple devices.

The Rise of Software-Defined Architectures

With technological advancements, past architectures have gradually shifted from hardware-defined to software-defined, no longer relying on distributed hardware within a single domain. Nowadays, different areas within enterprises are connected via Ethernet, allowing data to flow freely. Ethernet technology offers scalability, enabling a single software protocol stack to transmit data across different physical layers without changing the data format as speeds vary.

Applications of 10BASE-T1S Technology

10BASE-T1S technology enhances bandwidth utilization efficiency based on Ethernet's initial mechanisms, running at 10 Mbps over a single balanced pair of wires. To overcome the collision issues caused by early multi-branch Ethernet connections, modern Ethernet architectures have incorporated switches, improving network stability and efficiency but also increasing system complexity and cost.

PLCA Physical Layer Anti-Collision Technology

In 10BASE-T1S Ethernet, the introduction of Physical Layer Collision Avoidance (PLCA) technology addresses common collision problems in half-duplex networks. PLCA allows each node to transmit data in an orderly manner, synchronized by a coordinator node's beacon, eliminating the random delays caused by data collisions and ensuring that latency does not exceed predefined limits.

Security Assurance

Security is also a critical feature of modern Ethernet. Whether in industries with high-security requirements, such as banking, or in industrial environments combining OT and IT networks, Ethernet can provide reliable data transmission and anti-intrusion mechanisms. Compared to other proprietary communication technologies, standardized Ethernet protocols have more built-in security features, reducing the complexity of development and maintenance from scratch.

Functional Safety and System Optimization

In terms of functional safety, using standard technologies like Ethernet helps simplify system development. Although functional safety standards vary across industries, the general principles are similar. By providing functional safety manuals and employing FMEDA (Failure Modes, Effects, and Diagnostic Analysis) methods, designers can identify issues early in system development to ensure compliance with functional safety requirements.

Conclusion

In conclusion, 10BASE-T1S Ethernet not only simplifies hardware design and wiring while reducing system costs but also enhances system reliability and security through unified interfaces and security mechanisms. This architectural simplification and enhanced security support the deep integration of IT and OT networks, while lowering development complexity and risk.

Industrial network systems are gradually transitioning to software-defined centralized architectures. This new architecture uses Ethernet technology to connect electronic interfaces distributed across different areas, allowing data to flow to the necessary locations.