Multiprotocol

Since the emergence of the first fieldbus systems in the 1980s, the landscape of industrial communication has changed enormously - and the variety of different communication protocols has increased significantly. Many manufacturers of automation technologies and systems developed their own communication protocols and attempted to establish them on the market. Even back then, this led to a wide variety of protocols - from PROFIBUS to Modbus, DeviceNet, CC-Link, ControlNet, CANopen or FOUNDATION Fieldbus. Depending on the region and application, these are still used today and therefore have their raison d'être. 

This development was repeated in the course of the establishment of Industrial Ethernet, which led to a renewed increase in protocol diversity. With RTE protocols such as PROFINET, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, Ethernet POWERLINK and Sercos III, the organizations behind the fieldbuses once again developed proprietary systems. 

This diversity and the lack of interoperability between the individual protocols means additional work for manufacturers of automation components and systems as well as for plant engineers and end users in the development and use of automated devices. 

Multiprotocol capability, i.e. the ability to map different protocols with one and the same hardware without complex adaptations, has therefore become a key capability in industrial communication. 

Multiprotocol-capable components in industrial communications offer several notable advantages, significantly enhancing flexibility, efficiency, and scalability within automated systems. One of the primary benefits is compatibility. These components support multiple industrial communication protocols such as PROFINET, Ethernet/IP, Modbus, and EtherCAT, enabling seamless integration with diverse systems and devices from different manufacturers. This standardization helps streamline operations and reduce the complexities associated with managing multiple interfaces or converters. 

Operational flexibility is another key advantage. Multiprotocol-capable components allow industries to adapt to varying communication needs without extensive hardware changes. For instance, a single component can switch between protocols as required, facilitating quick reconfiguration and reducing downtime during system upgrades or modifications. 

Cost-efficiency is also significantly improved. By consolidating multiple protocol capabilities into a single component, the need for multiple dedicated devices is eliminated, leading to reduced hardware costs and simplified inventory management. Maintenance becomes easier and more cost-effective, as technicians can focus on fewer, more versatile components. 

Furthermore, future-proofing industrial operations becomes feasible. As industry standards evolve, these multiprotocol components ensure that systems remain interoperable and up-to-date, mitigating risks associated with obsolescence. This adaptability supports long-term sustainability and helps industries remain competitive in the face of technological advancements. 

In essence, multiprotocol-capable components enhance the robustness, flexibility, and economic efficiency of industrial communication systems, playing a crucial role in modernizing manufacturing processes. 

As a leading company in the field of industrial communication, Hilscher offers a broad portfolio of technologies and solutions for networking industrial environments, covering all relevant communication standards. 

This includes a wide range of interface solutions for connecting sensors, actuators and controllers to industrial communication networks. The communication controllers of the netX family form the basis for this. The multi-protocol-capable SoCs can be integrated into automation components as required and their extensive chip peripherals enable powerful, efficient and flexible solutions. A protocol change is achieved by simply reloading Hilscher's own netX firmware, which is provided for all common fieldbus and RTE protocols. Building on this, the company also offers embedded modules and PC cards in all form factors in order to realise the netX communication interface with less integration effort. 

Hilscher also offers a comprehensive managed industrial IoT range under the netFIELD brand. This ranges from edge gateways as an application-oriented computer platform with integrated container management and the Edge OS Runtime running on it to the central cloud portal, via which the docker containers are deployed to the edge devices, through to turnkey containers for communication applications. 

Gateways and switches, devices for network diagnostics as well as masters and bridges for the wireless connection of IO-Link sensors round off the automation portfolio. 

In addition to the hardware solutions, the company also offers a wide-ranging ecosystem that includes the appropriate firmware, protocol stacks, development boards, and extensive product support and development services. This comprehensive approach ensures long-term availability and continuous expansion of Hilscher's innovative multiprotocol portfolio, further strengthening its position as a trusted partner in the industrial automation industry.  

In summary, Hilscher's deep expertise and innovative multiprotocol solutions are at the core of its role in enabling seamless industrial communication and supporting the digital transformation of the industrial sector. Through its partnerships, product offerings, and ecosystem, Hilscher plays a pivotal part in addressing the challenges of heterogeneous communication landscapes and empowering industrial customers to achieve greater flexibility, scalability, and efficiency in their automation systems.