The Open DeviceNet Vendors Association (ODVA) has formed a special interest group (SIG) for the DeviceNet of Things. The SIG aims to develop changes to the DeviceNet specifications to allow adoption of DeviceNet in low cost industrial devices that are typically hardwired in the command-control and communication architecture of industrial facilities.
DeviceNet is a networking system used in industrial automation to exchange data between devices, and was developed by Allen-Bradley, now owned by Rockwell Automation. It uses Controller Area Network (CAN) as its backbone, a technology developed by Bosch in 1986. Rockwell pushed DeviceNet as an open platform and it is now managed by ODVA.
The SIG hopes to introduce a new blended DeviceNet-EtherNet/IP system, which will remove the need for expensive and complex gateways, making it more cost-effective to install the new devices.
The first phase of the SIG’s work will focus on developing an IP20-rated physical layer connection (PHY) that reduces device connection cost and installation time, an automatic addressing scheme that eliminates the need to set node addresses, and visibility into devices that until now have been unable to provide diagnostics. The next phase will focus on enhancements for an IP67-rated PHY, which should be much more durable when deployed.
ODVA expects the new DeviceNet specification to have incorporated the first phase of the SIG’s work in 2015. The first products to achieve the new IP20 compliancy will appear shortly after publication of the new spec.
‘By extending DeviceNet to more types of devoices, users will be able to both preserve their investment in DeviceNet and leverage seamless connectivity with Ethernet/IP via ODVA’s Common Industry Protocol (CIP).’ CIP includes EtherNet/IP, ControlNet, DeviceNet and CompoNet.
‘The IoT movement has established a basis for innovation of smart new ‘things’ in the automation world, but the cost of Ethernet is still too high for many industrial ‘things’ or devices,’ said ODVA president Katherine Voss. ‘Users will be provided with the unparalleled business benefit of cost-competitive connectivity today for devices previously not connected, as well as systems engineered for the future that can evolve in step with the IoT as the costs of Ethernet continue to decline.’
ODVA was formed in 1995 and says it is ‘compromised of the world’s leading automation companies, whose mission is to advance open and interoperable information and communication technologies in industrial automation.’ It has over 300 members, and lists principal members Rexroth Bosch, Cisco, Endress+Hauser, Omron, Rockwell and Schneider Electric.
After the first meeting of the SIG at the ODVA Annual Meeting of Members, six ODVA members had agreed to participate in the SIG. They were Eaton Electrical, HMS Industrial Networks, Omron, Panduit, Rockwell Automation and Weidm’ller Interface.
To give some sense of the scale of the companies involved, Eaton’s revenue run rate is around $5.5 billion a quarter, Omron is around $7.5 billion annually, Rockwell Automation is closer to $1.6 billion a quarter, and Weidm’ller Interface is about half that. Other players are smaller – Panduit is privately held but thought to be around $500 million annually and HMS Industrial Networks had annual revenues of just $82 million.