Digital Transformation
The current trends of automation and data exchange in manufacturing, also referred to as “Industry 4.0” or the “Industrial Internet of Things” (IIoT), are based upon digitization. By converting analog signals, sounds, images, texts, and other information into a computer-readable format, digitization has been transforming industries for decades. For manufacturers to make sense of all these bits of information, the data must be transported from numerous sensors and equipment on the factory floor and processed for humans or other machines to make informed decisions in real-time.
The Road Toward IIoT and Industry
4.0
What Is TSN?
TSN is a collection of standards that enables deterministic messaging over standard Ethernet networks. As defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), TSN involves a form of network traffic management to ensure non-negotiable time frames for end-to-end transmission latencies. Consequently, all TSN devices must synchronize their clocks with each other and use a common time reference to support real-time communications for industrial control applications.
Time Synchronization
As the name suggests, time-sensitive networking focuses on establishing a common time reference between all devices within a unified and interoperable infrastructure, which forms the foundation of its entire operations.
Bounded Low Latency
By adopting the concept of non-negotiable time period allocation for end-to-end transmissions, these components ensure deterministic data transmission over the network.
Ultra Reliability
To implement and maintain all aspects of a deterministic networking environment, a set of components has been defined to ensure optimal reliability and security.
Resource Management
When the network and applications become more converged and larger in scale, additional tools are required to provide better manageability and visibility.
Simulating a Smart Factory Network With and Without
TSN
Real-time communication is crucial for smart factory automation as networks grow in scale and complexity. Let’s see how time-sensitive networking (TSN) realizes deterministic communication in converged applications.
Moxa Showcases TSN Applications for Smart Factories at Taipei
Industrial Automation Exhibition 2020
Moxa was invited by CLPA to demonstrate the TSN converged network infrastructure together with Mitsubishi Electric at the Taipei International Industrial Automation Exhibition 2020. In the demo kit, Moxa showcased a unified network for a controller, servo motors, I/Os, and a camera.
This demonstration previews the fully unified network infrastructure that will define the next
generation of automation.
Moxa Showcases Real TSN Applications Together with Partners at SPS
2019
Through close collaboration with other key players in the industry, our TSN solution framework offers a unified network infrastructure that supports critical and non-critical package transmissions across a converged network. The unified network can also support a variety of applications that require high bandwidth, real-time communication, and high levels of determinism such as motion control.
Our TSN solution has demonstrated the potential of using TSN to easily build highly flexible,
futureproof automation network infrastructure.
Moxa Drives TSN Development With Our
Partners
Moxa Participates in the TSN Workshop at the ARC Industry Forum Europe 2021
Moxa will be participating in a
workshop at the ARC Industrial Forum Europe 2021 to discuss “Time-sensitive Networking (TSN): What, Why, and
Who”. The discussion panel will invite Christian Bergdahl from HMS Networks Group, John Browett from CC-Link
Partner Associations – Europe, Chih-Hong Lin from Moxa, Piotr Siwek from Mitsubishi Electric, and Frank Thomas
from ARC Europe to share their viewpoints on the development of TSN and its benefits towards accelerating
Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things.
Initial Supporter of the OPC Foundation Field Level
Communications (FLC)
Moxa was one of the
initial members of the OPC Foundation Field Level Communications (FLC) Steering Committee and we continue to
support the initiative of extending OPC UA including TSN to the field level. The steering committee covers
all aspects of the OPC UA TSN ecosystem, from sensors to the cloud, which will achieve a truly unified
infrastructure for automation networking.
Joined Testbeds for Technical Compatibility
As part of our ongoing commitment to creating innovative industrial connectivity technologies and solutions, Moxa is collaborating with other industry leaders to rigorously test TSN interoperability and ensure that the developing implementation is stable and reliable before going to market.
Moxa’s TSN Commitment
Moxa has always been passionate about building innovative industrial connectivity technologies and solutions. As part of our commitment to developing TSN technologies, Moxa is an active member of four of the world’s most significant TSN interoperability testbeds to ensure that TSN solutions are stable and reliable before going to market.
Moxa continuously participates in the evolution of TSN technologies, paving the way to IIoT and Industry 4.0 with unified and open standard Ethernet infrastructure for our customers.
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