Extending summation-frame communication systems for high performance and complex automation applications

Summation frame communication technologies, as represented by protocols like EtherCAT and Interbus-S, have proven useful for relatively simple applications but are easily stretched to limits by more complex applications especially those requiring quality time-synchronization and/or uncomplicated use of non-real time communication. This paper examines an extension of Ethernet based summation-frame type technology taking EtherCAT as an example. We implement this extension on an industrial Real-Time-Ethernet communication core and provide performance data. We conclude that with appropriate master and Layer-2 slave implementations, EtherCAT communication can support unmodified non-real-time traffic.