Reduce BOM Costs And Development Efforts for EtherCAT and Other Industrial Ethernet-Compatible Servo Systems


EtherCAT and other industrial Ethernet systems are expanding into fields beyond factory networks. On the other hand, the conventional implementation style of industrial Ethernet introduces the issue of rising BOM costs due to an increase in the number of required components. Moreover, supporting multiple industrial Ethernet protocols require more reusable software other than industrial Ethernet... » read more

Real-Time Performance Across The Factory Floor


Next generation processors continue to push the performance envelope. It seems the price continues to drop while the processing speeds increase with each new processor release. I recall discussions not that long ago in which the future utility of real-time operating systems and middleware were being bantered about as if they were not going to be required going forward. After all, with each subs... » read more

New Standards For Connectivity


By Pallab Chatterjee The last couple of months have been busy for data transfer standards. Consider the following moves: Power Line Communication (PLC) has become a new standard by the IEEE and has two groups promoting it: HD-PLC and Home Plug Alliance. Bluetooth also has made progress with the draft of the new Bluetooth Low Energy Technology as part of the July version 4 specificatio... » read more