Flexible communication with the sensor/actuator level

To realize the visions around Industry 4.0, detailed data from the sensor/actuator level must be made available. By combining IO-Link and OPC UA in a single device, Pepperl+Fuchs creates the possibility to easily transfer this data to IT and cloud-based systems in parallel to control communication via OPC UA. The device information that IO-Link can provide opens up new paths for smart applications. If a problem arises at the field level, the diagnostic data enables an accurate assessment of the problem. If devices need to be replaced, the identification data makes it possible to determine in short time at all which device should be purchased from which manufacturer. By integrating OPC UA into the IO-Link masters of the ICE2 and ICE3 series, Pepperl+Fuchs opens up the possibility of transmitting IO-Link data to higher-level systems in parallel and independently of each other via a deterministic fieldbus protocol such as Ethernet/IP or Profinet. Customers are therefore completely free to program their systems in C/C++ or Java, and whether they are based on Windows, Linux or other operating systems.

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