Up until now, industrial Ethernet has only been able to reach the control level before it needs to switch to BUS systems via gateways. Single Pair Ethernet (SPE), delivered via HARTING’s T1 Industrial interface, allows equipment to connect via end-to-end IP-based communications right up into the field level.
Experts have suggested that SPE will be one of the key technologies that significantly shapes the success of the IIoT. The factory of the future will require high data streams and the industrial sector needs connectivity which adapts itself to increasingly growing demands. This is most effectively achieved via standards that are developed and advanced through partnerships in an open eco-system. The T1 Industrial supplies both data and power across a single pair of wires in an IEC 63171-6 industrial interface, bringing Ethernet from the cloud to every sensor and enabling Industry 4.0.
HARTING are founder members of the SPE Industrial Partner Network, an association of companies who are working together to promote Single Pair Ethernet technology. The aim is to offer an SPE ecosystem by pooling the knowledge of infrastructure providers and bringing people together on the device side. As a result, those keen to invest in SPE can rest assured solutions will work in combination because of the single standard, T1 Industrial-style connector face.
Innovative aspects of the T1 Industrial include the space-saving and weight reduction benefits attained by the move to a single pair of wires. This means the compact T1 can be easily incorporated into smaller devices. Furthermore, by reducing the amount of copper wiring required, the T1 delivers weight savings of 1.6 kg for every 100 metres of cable used. Also, Ethernet interfaces can now be designed onto simple sensors, cameras, reading/ID devices or similar miniaturised equipment.
In addition, the T1 mating face can be integrated into standard housing forms as required. As the product family expands there will be interfaces in M8 and M12 housings, as well as other designs. HARTING not only has connectors and other components in mind but a complete Single Pair Ethernet ecosystem which will deliver higher bandwidth and bigger loads, right down to the printed circuit board.
There is immense potential in this new technology. As sensors, actuators, and network nodes can be networked and supplied with power via the T1, there are numerous applications in automation technology, robotics, machinery, and plant manufacturing. Other potential uses being explored include traffic control, intelligent lighting, smart farming, and mobile machinery.
Within transportation, an Ethernet cable weighs approximately 4.6kg per 100 metres, whereas an SPE cable only 3kg. Over an average train carriage lifetime of 40 years, each kilogramme of saved weight delivers savings of around £12,300 per carriage. When you consider how many miles of cable are found in trains for entertainment, safety and control technologies, it soon becomes apparent that significant cost and weight savings are possible.
Furthermore, in industries such as robotics where the cables are subjected to strong torsional forces, the reduced number of wires means thinner and more flexible cables, which prolongs their service life.