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Internet-of-Things (IoT) Projects Using The GSM/GPRS/GPS SIM800 Shield For Arduino
Our GSM/GPRS/GPS board is an Arduino shield based on the Quad-band GSM/GPRS/GPS module SIM808, rendering cellular and GPS tracking, all in one module. It allows you to add location-tracking, voice, text, SMS, and data to your application. This shield fits right on your Arduino or compatible device. At the heart is a powerful GSM cellular module (we use [...]
Industrial Ethernet Guide - Ethernet TCP/IP for Process Control
The following is part of A Comprehensible Guide to Industrial Ethernet by Wilfried Voss.Given all the technical aspects of Ethernet TCP/IP, including its strengths and weaknesses, that have been presented thus far, the critical engineering mind may challenge the need for sophisticated Industrial Ethernet protocols.After all, all Industrial Ethernet protocols benefit from the vast speed of Ethernet TCP/IP. Random delays [...]
Industrial Ethernet Guide - Switched Ethernet
The following is part of A Comprehensible Guide to Industrial Ethernet by Wilfried Voss.Ethernet switches are of significant importance when it comes to the total prevention of bus arbitration (CSMA/CD) occurrences, may it be for Ethernet TCP/IP or some (but not all) Industrial Ethernet protocols such as Ethernet/IP and Modbus/TCP. The elimination of the bus arbitration process [...]
Industrial Ethernet Guide - Ethernet TCP/IP Is Not Deterministic
The following is part of A Comprehensible Guide to Industrial Ethernet by Wilfried Voss.As the term Ethernet TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) indicates, Ethernet TCP/IP is not a single protocol. It comprises of a full suite of protocols or, in other words, Ethernet TCP/IP is a layered protocol, where each layer builds upon its lower [...]
Industrial Ethernet Guide - “Hard” and “Soft” Real-Time Control
The following is part of A Comprehensible Guide to Industrial Ethernet by Wilfried Voss.“Hard” real-time (HRT) control systems are designed to support specific response times, and thus, they are highly deterministic, but they depend on stable cycle time. A missed deadline may post a safety hazard or other serious consequences.“Soft” real-time (SRT) systems deliver a best-effort response, and there is [...]
Industrial Ethernet Guide - Execution Speed and Determinacy
The following is part of A Comprehensible Guide to Industrial Ethernet by Wilfried Voss.High-speed and high-precision manufacturing equipment such as, for instance, a robotic arm utilizes electric components like motion controllers, programmable logic controllers (PLC), feedback devices, and more, and it is mandatory for the machine’s performance that these components work together in a synchronized fashion. [...]
Industrial Ethernet Guide - Ethernet TCP/IP and Real-Time Performance
The following is part of A Comprehensible Guide to Industrial Ethernet by Wilfried Voss.The demand for Ethernet as a real-time communication network has increased continuously in the past due to the benefits of employing a single network technology throughout the manufacturing facility, from office to plant floor.However, the unpredictable nature of Ethernet TCP/IP’s timing (which will [...]
Industrial Ethernet Guide - Network Segmentation
The following is part of A Comprehensible Guide to Industrial Ethernet by Wilfried Voss.When too many devices are attached to a single-cable network, it is advisable to break up the network into separate, smaller network segments, and thus creating Multiple Collision Domains. The primary reason for segmenting is to increase bandwidth and to span the network over [...]
Industrial Ethernet Guide - Limitations Of Ethernet
The following is part of A Comprehensible Guide to Industrial Ethernet by Wilfried Voss.There are, in fact, only few limitations to Ethernet as a standard networking technology, and those that exist can be rectified easily.There are practical limits to the size (physical network length, number of devices) of a complete Ethernet network that shares a single [...]
Industrial Ethernet Guide - Ethernet, CSMA/CD, TCP/IP, and UDP
The following is part of A Comprehensible Guide to Industrial Ethernet by Wilfried Voss.The following chapter explains, in brief, the functionality of Ethernet, CSMA/CD (Carrier-sense multiple access with collision detection), TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), and UDP (User Datagram Protocol).EthernetEthernet represents the physical protocol layer, i.e., it covers the physical medium (e.g., cables, RJ45 ports, LAN cards, [...]