TSN-based OPC-UA, an Industry 4.0-based technology
Implementing the 100Mbit/s TSN standard with the netX90 SoC
Provides a foundation for evaluating TSN functions


On the 3rd, Hillscher completed the implementation of the 100Mbit/s TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking) standard based on its latest multi-protocol SoC, the netX90 device. Additionally, the company said it is supporting device manufacturers to prepare for future communications tasks by participating in all relevant testbeds.

At SPS 2019, Hilscher already presented a demo of OPC UA Pub/Sub alongside key TSN standards such as improvements to scheduled traffic (formerly IEEE 802.1Qbv), frame preemption (formerly IEEE 802.1Qbu), and timing and synchronization for time-sensitive applications (IEEE 802.1AS).

Multiple OPC-UA-enabled devices, such as netRAPID 90 or netX90, can act as publishers and subscribers simultaneously in a network scenario.

The OPC UA Pub/Sub demo implemented by Hilscher successfully demonstrated OPC-UA communication, including consistent transmission times between publishers and subscribers and the accuracy of the publisher's time-triggered frame injection. Furthermore, this demo provided a foundation for evaluating the impact and benefits of TSN features.

Although the TSN profiles scheduled for release in 2021 have not yet been formalized, some companies are already announcing TSN-enabled products. Hilscher is also continuously gathering all the requirements that future SoCs will need to support, and plans to provide access to all TSN-related products expected in the coming years through the next-generation netX.