Mapping your integration strategy
In the previous section, we looked at some of the forerunners poised to shape the future of industrial communication. Each of them has great potential to alter the landscape of the ecosystem, and symbiotically, they are compelling in defining next-generation solutions, possibly leading to Industry 5.0.
Figure 5.12 – Converging protocols
Figure 5.12 illustrates an ideal integration architecture of an industrial communication network. The sensors, machines, devices, and actuators are connected to the PLCs via a real-time Fieldbus, such as PROFINET, providing the lowest latency data transfer. The communication from the PLCs to SCADA, MES, IoT Edge, ERP, and the cloud is all unified with the OPC UA standard. PROFINET and OPC UA share the same physical layer for communication, the APL Ethernet or the SPE. They provide seamless and straightforward connectivity options on the shop floor. Time-sensitive networking makes...
