High Speed Ethernet - Promoting Openness in Hybrid Control

Many tasks in Process Automation require a combination of continuous and sequential control. Developments in Ethernet-based backbones, however, are increasingly addressing the problems of high-speed, real-time Factory Automation only. There is one exception: FOUNDATION Fieldbus High Speed Ethernet. This paper shows, on the basis of practical examples, how High Speed Ethernet supports hybrid control through standard and flexible function blocks, provides innovative and powerful solutions by bridging fieldbus networks, and allows the use of both FOUNDATION Fieldbus and PROFIBUS solutions when the application demands it.