Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1347119
10 I ICT TODAY MQTT, OPC-UA, or another IoT protocol. When the data is needed elsewhere, the new system can merely subscribe to this data so it can access it as well. No reprogramming of the PLC is required. The sensor itself can be accessed, and settings can be updated since it can communicate not only the data it is collecting, but also the current state and configuration information of the sensor (Figure 3). Single-Pair Ethernet: Ethernet to the Edge There are millions of building and industrial automation devices sold every year that do not communicate their information over Ethernet TCP/IP. Rather, they use a different communication stack. This is understandable, since devices at the edge do not require more bandwidth than Ethernet is able to deliver over 2 or 4 twisted-pairs of cable. Indeed, it can be surprising that so many companies that sell devices which do not need nearly 100 Mb/s or greater transmission bandwidth are still standardizing on 2-pair and 4-pair Ethernet SPE Sensor 7 Convert to MQTT 6 5 Where are you sending the data? 4 3 2 Single-Pair Ethernet 1 Server Interpret & use data Receive FIGURE 3: How Ethernet sensors send their data in context of the OSI model. communications. This is happening at an accelerating pace, according to an HMS report. "In industrial markets, the use of Ethernet as a fieldbus has grown to 64% in 2019, edging out serial field- bus protocols to niche status." 1 While larger bandwidth may not be required, a common net- work and addressable devices are becoming more valuable and a demanded part of customer specifications. FIGURE 4: Single-pair Ethernet technology enables operational network technology found in building and industrial automation to become part of a seamless, Ethernet-based network. 10 Mb/s Single-Pair Ethernet Device communications in buildings and machines often use auxillary power to operate and use gateways to convert and transmit data. Single-pair Ethernet brings Ethernet communications and power to these devices over two wires and familiar topologies. No batteries, and no gateway programming – simplifying IoT to the edge and enabling a single network to support the entire facility. IT Ethernet Single-Pair Ethernet 10 Mb/s Single-Pair Ethernet • Delivers Seamless Data Flow • Expands the Digital Ceiling • Advances Industrial Automation against the data that is actually being communicated by devices in the field, such as sensors, variable frequency drives, and cameras, this communication rate is sufficient and much higher than bandwidth of serial commu- nication systems often used. Single-pair Ethernet is right sized to bring Ethernet to the edge (Figure 4). Single-pair Ethernet supports 10 Mb/s of band- width to the edge device over its one kilometer reach. When this bandwidth is compared to current Ethernet technology that surpasses Gigabit speeds, this capability seems hopelessly low. However, when compared