A Scalable Factory Backbone for Time-Sensitive Networks

Convergence of time-sensitive machine control networks with the ubiquitous IT network is a persistent requirement in the industrial context. We review the fundamental differences between both technologies, the challenges to be solved, existing solutions, and their limitations. We introduce a time-division multiplexing (TDM) shim layer in the Ethernet protocol stack for convergence at a precision of leading-edge field bus technologies. The technology is intended as backbone network at factory scale and line rates of 10 - 100Gbit/s that carries massive amounts of IT traffic together with sub-microsecond precision machine control type traffic. We prove our claims by prototype measurements, interoperability tests, and field trials.