Interbus in safety critical applications

The introduction of bus systems in automation technology marked the beginning of a revolution for system operators. The new technology provided the user with new opportunities, which had previously been impossible using conventional technologies. Since its market launch in 1987, INTERBUS has gradually replaced parallel cabling. Alongside savings in extremely heavy wiring harnesses and intermediate terminal connections, customers now also benefit from, for example, diagnostic messages about the status of their systems. INTERBUS is a bus system which currently enables the user to network anything from basic sensors and actuators to complex control systems using a single bus cable, and it is now actively supported by several hundred manufacturers. It has always been possible to integrate new features into the system, so that even the earliest devices can still be used in systems today. For INTERBUS, compatibility is not just a word; it is a reality. INTERBS Safety, which will soon be available for use in safety-oriented applications, will also be compatible with existing INTERBUS networks, so that any investments already made will be secure for the future. It is even possible to integrate safety applications into operating INTERBUS systems retrospectively without major changes. This article highlights the basic implementation methods for INTERBUS Safety and provides an outlook for the future applications of INTERBUS Safety in safety technology.