Abstract

Automation technology is undergoing continuous change due to the ever-shorter innovation cycles for new products. The use of fieldbus technology in the 1990s has represented a significant innovation. It has enabled the migration of automation systems from centralized to decentralized systems. In this regard, PROFIBUS has set the standard as the market leader for more than 20 years. In today’s automation technology, not only fieldbuses but also increasingly Ethernet and information technology (IT), with established standards like TCP/IP and XML, are calling the shots. Integrating IT into automation allows significantly better communication options between automation systems, extensive configuration and diagnostic possibilities, and network-wide service functionality.