Integrating six key industrial communication protocols into MCU family

As the industry embraces digital transformation and the principles of Industry 4.0, communication protocols in industrial automation are becoming more essential than ever. To facilitate seamless data exchange and control in automation systems, Infineon Technologies AG, together with its partner RT-Labs, a provider of industrial communication solutions, has integrated six Fieldbus and Ethernet-based protocols in the firmware of the Infineon XMC7000 industrial MCU. The firmware is obtainable through Infineon's ModusToolbox development platform, supplying access to all major industrial communication protocols in a single software solution. This permits users to quickly and easily implement the necessary protocols on the XMC7000 MCU, fully using its high-performance capabilities in various applications, including servo drives, I/O modules, robotic arms, industrial gateways, PLCs, and more.

"Infineon's XMC microcontrollers have a long history of enabling the factory floor. As Industry 4.0 continues to build momentum, existing Fieldbus and Ethernet-based protocols are critical for industrial automation," said Panagiotis Venardos, senior product manager Microcontroller at Infineon. "We continue to invest in higher performance microcontrollers and connected MCUs to help drive further enhancements to how the factory floor seamlessly communicates. Our partner RT-Labs helps bring scale to this effort with their field-proven and highly optimised Ethernet and Fieldbus protocol stacks."

"At RT-Labs, we believe industrial communication should be effortless. As a Premium Partner with Infineon, we're bringing plug-and-play connectivity to ModusToolbox," said Marcus Ekerhult, CMO RT-Labs. "With support for leading protocols and U-Phy technology, developers can now accelerate development and launch products faster while ensuring reliability and compliance. We're excited for this partnership and the innovations it will unlock."

Industrial communication protocols are standardised sets of rules and procedures that govern the exchange of data between devices and systems in an industrial automation environment. As a result of the collaboration between Infineon and RT-Labs, customers now have access to the following communication protocols: PROFINET RT, EtherNet/IP, CANopen, CC-Link, Modbus/TCP, EtherCAT Master. A GitHub repository hosts the middleware, ensuring up-to-date, easily accessible libraries. Also, Infineon supports implementation by supplying user-friendly code examples and comprehensive documentation, eradicating the necessity for in-depth expertise or extensive resources on the customer's side.