An inside look at industrial Ethernet communication protocols

There are four major components in industrial automation including PLC controllers, HMI panels, industrial drives and sensors. The PLC controller is the brain of an industrial automation system; it provides relay control, motion control, industrial input and output process control, distributed system, and networking control. PLCs often need to work in harsh environmental conditions, withstanding heat, cold, moisture, vibration and other extreme conditions while providing precise, deterministic and real-time controls to the other parts of the industrial automation system through reliable communication links. The HMI is the graphical user interface for industrial control. It provides a command input and feedback output interface for controlling the industrial machinery. An HMI is connected through common communication links to other parts of industrial systems. Industrial drives are motor controllers used for controlling optimal motor operation. They are used in a very diverse range of industrial applications and come with a wide range of voltage and power levels. Industrial drives include but are not limited to AC and DC drives as well as servo drives that use a motor feedback system to control and adjust the behavior and performance of servo mechanisms. Sensors are the hands and legs of the industrial automation system that monitor the industrial operation conditions, inspections, measurements, and more, in real time. They are an integral part of industrial automation systems and provide trigger point and feedback for system control. Communication is the backbone of all the industrial components for efficient automation production systems. On the following page is an example picture how all the components work together through communication links.