This article will introduce you to the concept of POWERLINK, a real-time industrial Ethernet solution. POWERLINK is 100% compliant with the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard and is used for applications where hard real-time requirements are essential. The solution is software-based and is used by many manufacturers for a variety of purposes. Here are three ways it can help you. Let us look at the benefits of POWERLINK and their applications.
POWERLINK is a real-time industrial Ethernet solution
In industrial automation, real-time Ethernet is essential for ensuring that all processes and systems are running smoothly. The standard Ethernet is inherently not deterministic due to latency and CSMA/CD. Real-time industrial Ethernet is therefore based on a software protocol called POWERLINK, which offers fast reaction times. POWERLINK supports multiple physical layers and is used by process and manufacturing industries, such as chemical plants and energy companies.
It is 100% compliant with IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard
POWERLINK is a Real-Time Ethernet field bus system. The Ethernet standard IEEE 802.3 is used as the foundation for the POWERLINK protocol. Powered by the openPOWERLINK industrial Ethernet stack, POWERLINK provides support for Managing Node (MN) and Controlled Node(CN) roles, publish/subscribe relationships, and isochronous data communication. This solution is 100% compliant with IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard.
It is a software-based solution
POWERLINK communication occurs as a roundtable discussion, with a moderator allowing participants to speak at specified times. Unlike a normal telephone conversation, there is no need for arbitration. The POWERLINK communication cycle has three phases: the POWERLINK “Start of Cycle” frame sent to all CNs, the second phase, during which the payload data is exchanged. The third phase is a resumption of the previous two phases.
It is used to implement applications with hard real-time requirements
POWERLINK is used in various industrial automation and smart grid applications. Different works have been conducted to implement this protocol. In industrial control systems, MNs may be implemented by PCs and PLCs, while the slave functionality of controlled nodes is implemented with DSPs. In order to support these implementations, SPOF framework has been developed. The framework supports the implementation of POWERLINK with any kind of MN, including FPGAs. In this article, we will discuss how SPOF can be used to implement powerlink in PLC-based industrial control systems.
It is a platform for programmatic native advertising
PowerLinks is a programmatic native advertising platform that allows brands to buy and place ads on websites, social media networks, and mobile apps. This platform allows brands to create custom ads based on customer interest profiles and uses PowerLinks’ Personal Relevance data to deliver ads that are relevant to each user. These ads are also visually styled in real time and match the design of the surrounding mobile app or webpage. This platform delivers a native experience for users and enables a seamless route to scale. It also helps brands reduce costs of customer acquisition by providing an affordable and efficient way to acquire new customers.