Profinet communication

HORST has a Profinet communication interface, which can be used to exchange data between a PLC and the robot. Profinet (Process Field Network) is a real-time industrial Ethernet protocol.

Through Profinet communication, the robot can be controlled and monitored by the PLC. HORST acts as the Client (Slave) and is controlled by the PLC (Server or Master). This allows for easy integration of HORST into an existing production line and enables communication with various peripheral devices. In addition to executing specific commands, there are customizable memory areas available for exchanging Int, Float, and Bool data types.

1. Data Types

16-Bit Integer

Storage requirement: 16 bits

Value range: -32768 to 32767

32-Bit, Integer

Storage Requirement: 32 bits

Value Range: -2147483648 to 2147483647

32-Bit, Floating point number

Storage requirement: 32 bits

Value range: 3.402823e+38 to -1.175495e-38

Boolean (Bool)

Storage Requirement: 1 Bit

Value 0: False

Value 1: True

Char

2. Profinet Output Data

The following chapters will explain the organization of output data. Output data consists of information transmitted from the robot to the PLC via PROFINET. Input and output data are transferred within modules, which need to be created during device configuration in the TIA Portal, as detailed in the creation of PROFINET modules.

2.1 Memory Allocation

Memory allocation describes how the data to be transferred is stored internally in the robot. The memory space is divided into 11 modules, each consisting of 64 bytes.

  1. Module : Time, version, initialization status, program status, robot status, popups.

  2. Module : Inputs, Tool-Inputs, Outputs, Tool-Outputs

  3. Module : joint angle position(Joints), TCP position(Pose)

  4. Module : TCP position

  5. Module : Float registers

  6. Module : Float register

  7. Module : Int register

  8. Module : Int register

  9. Module : Boolean registers, Tool

  10. Module : Current activity, error while changing activity

  11. Module : nextJoints, nextPose

Memory Allocation Overview: