Achieving real-time Ethernet

In the 25 years or more that have elapsed since its creation, Ethernet has become the classic bus system. Ethernet is steadily permeating the industrial control environment where users are seeing enormous benefits in the ease of integration of industrial control systems with higher level of manufacturing execution systems. As Ethernet continues its drive into the industrial arena, the Ethernet still needs to overcome several challenges to redefine the shape of automation networks. Although Ethernet has a bright future in the industrial environment, many functions and application profiles are not yet available on industrial Ethernet and have still to be implemented.