A Power Couple: SPE and OPC UAFX Optimize Industrial Automation
Many automated manufacturing operations still rely on traditional fieldbus systems. In fact, industry analysts estimate that between 55% and 65% of today’s industrial connectivity is made possible by fieldbus technologies. However, network administrators in these environments often encounter challenges related to data transfer rates and integrating new devices.
But the transition to modern Ethernet technology is on the rise, offering significant advantages for network administrators. Implementing Ethernet and complying with IEC/IEEE 60802 makes their responsibilities—including managing and maintaining network security and performance—much easier.
How Ethernet Improves Life for Industrial Network Administrators
The exact type of Ethernet technology used in automated manufacturing operations—SPE (Single-Pair Ethernet), Multi-Pair Ethernet, or fiber optics, for example—is of secondary importance. Why? Because each type complies with the same set of IEEE standards. The transition from different fieldbus systems is important. These systems are difficult to integrate with each other and with IT infrastructure to ensure uniform and open network-technology Ethernet.
IEC/IEEE 60802 integrates specific mechanisms for quality assurance (QoS) and security, which are both essential for the operation of modern industrial networks. For all network-compatible devices, conformity requires the implementation of additional mechanisms and functions that aren’t available in fieldbus environments.
This can pose some challenges, especially among devices that have severe resource limitations. In addition, conformance tests are not yet available for IEC/IEEE 60802 profiles, so product development is not feasible.
By switching to SPE, network administrators benefit from the enhanced features of the IEC/IEEE 60802 profile, including improved security protocols, such as IEEE 802.1X for authentication, unified time synchronization, and the ability to prioritize traffic through QoS.
This ensures that critical control information is prioritized over less urgent traffic, increasing installation efficiency and reliability. Compared to traditional fieldbuses, the higher bandwidth and range offered by SPE also allow network administrators to efficiently manage a wider network with a greater number of end devices, increasing system scalability and flexibility.
Where OPC UA and UAFX Fit In
The combination of SPE and the OPC Foundation’s UA (Unified Architecture) Field eXchange (FX), also known as UAFX specifications, offers considerable advantages for network administrators and other stakeholders who play a role in industrial automation and the SPE decision-making process.
An extension of the OPC UA framework, UAFX supports real-time, deterministic communication in industrial settings at the field level, enabling seamless data exchange between controllers, devices, and systems.
For example, OPC UA and UAFX facilitate standardized horizontal and vertical communication, as well as uniform data semantics, which is crucial for:
- Application engineers who work through initial configuration
- Operators who handle process monitoring
- Data scientists who perform data analysis
To understand how this plays out in real life, picture a data scientist working in the process industry. Precise and timely data analysis is essential to optimize production and detect anomalies early. Switching to SPE enables fast, reliable transfer of large amounts of data directly from production lines to analysis and forecasting systems.
Integrating OPC UA and UAFX with SPE ensures standardized and interoperable data acquisition and transmission, enabling the data scientist to efficiently access a consistent and comprehensive database.
This not only improves the quality and informative value of their data analysis but also supports predictive maintenance. It enables real-time analysis of machine data so that possible failures can be predicted, and appropriate maintenance measures can be initiated. The high bandwidth and low latency of SPE, combined with the data consistency and security provided by OPC UA and UAFX, enable data scientists to increase plant efficiency and reduce downtime.
So far, UAFX includes only controller-to-controller communication, which connects controllers with each other, regardless of the manufacturer. The integration of sensors and actuators into control processes is currently underway.
Aligning with the Goals of NAMUR and the Open Process Automation Forum
NAMUR Open Architecture (NOA) and the Open Process Automation Forum (OPAF) promote open, interoperable systems in the process industry to create more flexible and efficient production environments.
SPE and OPC UA align perfectly with the goals of NOA and OPAF. SPE provides a robust, standardized communication infrastructure for automation technology. Together, these technologies:
- Enable seamless integration of different devices and systems
- Improve data transparency
- Support advanced analytics and control capabilities
In addition, NAMUR expects to gain access to additional process and device status data (“vital data”) through bandwidth increases.
With the help of AI (artificial intelligence), processes can be further optimized, and system availability can improve even more with predictive maintenance, as sensors independently report deviations in vital status.
Standardized information models should enable manufacturer-independent and automated self-parameterization and configuration of the sensors, which, in turn, automatically provide identification data.
Together, these innovations will help form a future where industrial automation systems are more adaptable, scalable, and capable of meeting evolving demands.
Belden Helps Drive a Future Powered by Single Pair Ethernet
As the industrial automation industry transitions from traditional fieldbus to modern Ethernet technology, Belden will help plants integrate OPC UA and UAFX with Single Pair Ethernet so that all stakeholders can experience the benefits.
Our Single Pair Ethernet portfolio of cabling and connectivity products creates a world of possibility when it comes to establishing Ethernet connections in industrial environments.
Learn more about Single Pair Ethernet.
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About the Author
Lukas Bechtel has been with Belden since 2012, rising through the ranks from test automation engineer to technology architect in our CTO office. He’s also a faculty member and researcher at Esslingen University, where he teaches students about IT and network security and industrial networks while studying areas like Industry 4.0, wireless communication and industrial communication and security.