Horizontal integration, i.e. communication without interfaces or extra programming


One of the tasks of IDA work groups is to identify demands on today’s automation solutions. In order to reduce engineering expenses, manufacturers and users alike are requesting horizontal integration – i. e. seamless connectivity between devices, controllers and HMI- or monitoring systems in real-time via Ethernet.

IDA defines the architecture, the structures, protocols and interfaces for future automation solutions to offer the following advantages:
  • Production plant modularity
    Distributing intelligence to various devices, a great number of possible topologies and the distribution of the plant program to network participants bring about a range of new possibilities for modularising production plants.

  • Integrating devices
    All descriptions are archived in the respective device. This simplifies the integration of software tools. Even when devices are exchanged, manual configuration is no longer required.

  • Programming
    Programming for communication between devices is no longer required. As all components communicate in real-time, the physical arrangement of various functions can be neglected in the process of program design.

  • Commissioning and maintenance
    The entire plant can be supervised, configured and programmed from any location within a plant which is connected to the network. The plant-wide overview makes troubleshooting much more convenient.

  • Safety technology
    There is no specific infrastructure for safety hardware required. Safety-oriented sensors and actuators are able to communicate directly. The safety-PLC is distributed among those components. This concept has already passed examination according to EN 954-1, category 4, conducted by TÜV (German safety standards authority), as well as SIL 3 according to IEC 61508.

  • Integration
    Through a network-independent communication layer, IDA systems can be connected to existing fieldbusses simply, and without tedious adaptations.

  • Engineering Efforts
    Manufacturers of devices no longer differ regarding network technology or protocols, but regarding characteristics of their devices and software tools. The development of various fieldbus components including those protocols is no longer require.

  • Integrated Environment
    Any application, as well as any task, has got direct access to the corporate data base, in order to be able to read and write production data. The connection to ERP and MES systems creates a bridge to the business software.

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