PROFINET in der Prozessautomation: eine Positionierung

PROFINET is the Ethernet-based communication technology for automation applications developed by the PROFIBUS User Organization. The positioning of PROFINET in process automation is the focus of this paper. To this end, possible applications and capabilities of PROFINET in process automation are evaluated in order to draw conclusions about potential applications of PROFINET in process automation. It is shown that the integration of communication systems established in process automation - especially PROFIBUS PA and HART - into PROFINET-based systems plays a key role. The requirements for such integration are discussed, and the implementation of these requirements in the specification working groups of the PROFIBUS user organization is presented in a follow-up article.