Profinet
Overview
PROFINET is an industry technical standard for data communication over Industrial Ethernet, designed for collecting data from and controlling equipment in industrial systems, with a particular strength in delivering data under tight time constraints. PROFINET is an open standard and is part of the family of PROFIBUS & PROFINET protocols.
History
The development of PROFINET was initiated by Siemens and the PROFIBUS User Organization (PNO) in 2000. The aim was to extend the proven PROFIBUS technology to the Ethernet and thus to create a basis for the integration of production and office networks. The first PROFINET specification was released in 2002.
Technical Details
PROFINET uses Ethernet as the common medium for communication. It is based on the Internet Protocol Suite and uses the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
PROFINET Protocol
The PROFINET protocol is designed for fast industrial automation applications, including those requiring motion control. It is particularly suitable for connecting industrial controllers to their remote I/O devices such as sensors, actuators, drives, and operator interfaces.
PROFINET Devices
PROFINET devices are classified into three types: Devices, Controllers, and Supervisors. Devices are field devices such as I/O devices, drives, and valves. Controllers are typically Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) or PCs. Supervisors are typically engineering stations or HMIs.
PROFINET Communication
PROFINET communication is based on the exchange of data between a controller and its devices. The controller sends output data to the devices, and the devices send input data to the controller.
PROFINET Services
PROFINET provides several services for the exchange of data, alarms, and parameters. These services are used for cyclic and acyclic communication between PROFINET devices.
PROFINET Real-Time (RT)
PROFINET Real-Time (RT) is a type of PROFINET communication used for standard control applications. It provides cyclic exchange of data between a controller and its devices with a typical cycle time of 1 to 10 ms.
PROFINET Isochronous Real-Time (IRT)
PROFINET Isochronous Real-Time (IRT) is a type of PROFINET communication used for motion control applications. It provides cyclic exchange of data between a controller and its devices with a cycle time of 250 µs to 1 ms.
PROFINET Conformance Classes
PROFINET devices are classified into three conformance classes (CC): CC-A, CC-B, and CC-C. These classes define the functionality that a PROFINET device must support.
PROFINET Profiles
PROFINET profiles are application-specific enhancements to the PROFINET standard. They define additional device behavior for specific applications such as drives and process automation.
PROFINET Security
PROFINET includes security measures to protect against unauthorized access and data corruption. These measures include access control, data integrity, and data confidentiality.
PROFINET Diagnostics
PROFINET provides comprehensive diagnostic capabilities for the detection and localization of faults. These capabilities include device diagnostics, network diagnostics, and system diagnostics.
PROFINET Commissioning
PROFINET commissioning involves the configuration and startup of a PROFINET system. It includes device addressing, device replacement, and system testing.
PROFINET Maintenance
PROFINET maintenance involves the ongoing operation and servicing of a PROFINET system. It includes device monitoring, fault correction, and system optimization.
PROFINET and Industry 4.0
PROFINET plays a key role in the realization of the Industry 4.0 vision. It provides the communication infrastructure for the smart factories of the future.