Performance Aspects of PROFINET IO

Recently, the complex PROFINET CBA (component based automation) has been supplemented by the simplified PROFINET IO standard. PROFINET CBA defines a vendor-independent engineering model covering plant-wide automation and uses a component/container approach. Contrary to this, PROFINET IO aims at decentral periphery scenarios. Analogous to PROFIBUS DP it is based on a modular device model. Functionally, PROFINET IO can be considered as an Ethernet-based fieldbus. It is expected that PROFINET IO will play a major role on the PLC market since it is a possible replacement for PROFIBUS DP. The paper introduces the PROFINET technology and discusses performance aspects. Measurement results are presented.