Safety-over-EtherCAT standard approved
Approval by 27-nation committee will further uniform usage of EtherCAT technology within the automation world.
Together with the IEC 67184-3 specification, the Safety-over-EtherCAT Protocol has been accepted unanimously by the 27 national IEC committees. Achieving this international standard is an important milestone for the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG). This will further leverage the wide acceptance and uniform usage of EtherCAT technology within the automation world.
The Safety-over-EtherCAT protocol is referred to as FSCP 12 (Functional Safety Communication Profile) in the IEC 61784-3 specification. This standard defines the fundamental requirements of a communication system in terms of safety relevant data transmission. In order to do so, it also defines potential errors whose occurrences have to be assumed and describes possible recognition and corrective measures. All requirements are met safely by the Safety-over-EtherCAT Protocol.
The Safety-over-EtherCAT protocol was introduced by the EtherCAT Technology Group and, since 2005, has been widely used in applications worldwide. The protocol is ideal for applications up to the Safety Integrity Level SIL3 according to IEC 61508. Safety communication and standard communication use a single bus system.
“Safety-over-EtherCAT is simple to implement, bus independent and open,” said Dr. Guido Beckmann, who is in charge of the Safety-over-EtherCAT Technology within the ETG. “The acknowledgement of this well-proven safety protocol as an international standard is yet another logical step towards the proliferation of EtherCAT technology. It provides additional assurance to both device manufacturers and end users who can depend on a stable and globally-accepted technology.”
The publication of the international standard IEC 61784-3 Ed.2 is expected soon.
The EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) is an organization in which key user companies from various industries and leading automation suppliers join forces to support, promote and advance EtherCAT technology. With over 1,300 members from 50 countries, the EtherCAT Technology Group has become the largest organization in the world that is exclusively focused on Industrial Ethernet technologies.
For additional information please visit www.ethercat.org
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