Real-Time Ethernet Master/Slave Network

EtherCAT - Anybus (HMS Networks)

EtherCAT is an open real-time Ethernet Master/Slave network developed by Beckhoff. Today, it is an open standard, managed by the EtherCAT technology group. EtherCAT sets new limits for real-time performance since it processes 1000 distributed I/O in 30 µs or 100 axis in 100 µs using twisted pair or fiber optic cable. Regarding topology, EtherCAT supports a simple low cost line structure, a tree structure, daisy chaining or drop lines - no expensive infrastructure components are required. Alternatively the classic more expensive switched star topology can be used.