Function blocks for the design of control applications based on EtherCAT fieldbus

Ethernet based fieldbus systems have been successfully introduced into industrial automation, and they are included on modern designs that demand features of conformance and integrated development. Function Blocks (FBs) allow encapsulating different levels of complexity, so that the control engineer can use these kind of buses, hiding some of these levels. This paper illustrates the advantages of FBs through a case of study, based on IEC 61499 standard, and supported by COSME platform. These advantages are: 1) easy design of complex systems by means of a network of function blocks; 2) easy evolution of a design by the change of a technology. In this case, the change is the introduction of the EtherCAT field bus. To do that, new FBs needed for the design are presented.