Who will become the last hegemon of the three mainstream technologies of industrial communication

Fieldbus, Ethernet and wireless technologies have their own advantages and disadvantages, so who will be the mainstream in the future? Obviously, not only one technology is the "right" solution for all manufacturers or machines? Producers must weigh the value of various options. Is there another kind of profit that is more valuable than the benefits from the ordinary scheme? If so, how do these solutions compare with the cost of maintaining another factory level technology and corresponding supplier relationships in a few years? This is a key question that only the end user can answer. Similarly, these problems are also applicable to field bus and Ethernet technology, and even the choice of future wireless network solutions.

Industrial Ethernet, field bus and industrial wireless are the three mainstream technologies in the field of industrial communication. The integration of field bus, Ethernet, embedded technology and wireless communication technology into the control network not only ensures the stability of the system, but also enhances the openness and interoperability of the system, thus helping enterprises to accelerate the development of new products, reduce production costs and improve information services. With the increasing demand for communication, network has become an indispensable means of transmission. With the increase of network applications, there are more and more debates about who will become the main way of industrial communication in the future, so who will become the mainstream in the future?

The concept of field bus was formally put forward in 1984. The appearance of fieldbus not only simplifies the structure of the system, but also greatly simplifies the design, installation, operation and maintenance of the entire control system. Therefore, the appearance of fieldbus technology does bring a deep revolution to industrial automation. In the past ten years, it has also developed rapidly in the field of industrial control, and has been widely used in industrial automation systems. However, there is no uniform standard for Fieldbus technology. In fact, since the concept of fieldbus was put forward, the International Electrotechnical Commission/International Standards Association (IEC/ISA) has started to formulate the standard of fieldbus, and the unified standard has not yet been completed. Many companies have also introduced their own fieldbus technologies, but it is difficult to unify their openness and interoperability.

At the time of the field bus standard war, Ethernet quietly entered the control field, resulting in a new term "industrial Ethernet". Due to the advantages of Ethernet, such as faster transmission rate than the field bus, Ethernet technology has been in its prime since its birth, and its momentum has surpassed the field bus in recent years. However, just like the field bus standard debate in the past, industrial Ethernet also has many different Ethernet technologies, such as Ethernet/IP, Profinet, ModbusTCP, EtherCAT, Powerlink, etc. These networks are based on different technologies and protocols at different levels, including OPC, CP, IP, etc. Moreover, each technology is supported by different manufacturers, This determines the coexistence of multiple Ethernet technologies.

In terms of wireless technology, from complex cabling to only one wireless signal transmitter, from relying on PC to using any device equipped with wireless terminal adapter, the connection network presents a status quo of unimpeded access at any time, in any region, and on any device. The development of technology has also promoted social progress. Whether it is military products, industrial products, or even civilian products, wireless technology has become an indispensable part of social development. Compared with wired network, wireless network has mobility, without the limitation of communication cables, and communication terminals can move freely or be arranged at will in the communication area; The networking is fast and flexible, and the installation of wireless communication system avoids the tedious work of digging cable trenches and laying cables when installing wired networks, reducing the construction amount; Wide coverage, wireless communication can cover the area that can be reached by wired communication, and data communication can be realized in places where wired network is not convenient to use; With strong scalability, it can form a variety of topologies and easily expand nodes. Of course, at this stage, people are still skeptical and wait-and-see about the security, reliability, cost performance of wireless technology, and do not know what industrial applications wireless technology is suitable for.

Fieldbus, Ethernet and wireless technologies have their own advantages and disadvantages, so who will be the mainstream in the future? Obviously, not only one technology is the "right" solution for all manufacturers or machines? Producers must weigh the value of various options. Is there another kind of profit that is more valuable than the benefits from the ordinary scheme? If so, how do these solutions compare with the cost of maintaining another factory level technology and corresponding supplier relationships in a few years? This is a key question that only the end user can answer. Similarly, these problems are also applicable to field bus and Ethernet technology, and even the choice of future wireless network solutions.

It can be said that the development of any technology is ultimately determined by its own characteristics, and users will give the final answer. No matter who is the mainstream of Ethernet, field bus and wireless technology in the future, how to make the industrial control system more open and compatible is the ultimate trend.