The CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA) is now actively engaged with the Avnu Alliance, ODVA, OPC Foundation (OPCF) and Profibus & Profinet International (PI) as part of the TSN Industrial Automation Conformance Collaboration (TIACC). The organizations will work together to develop a unified conformance test plan for automation devices that leverage time-sensitive networking (TSN), driving standardization, interoperability and interconnectivity.
Bringing together key global industrial network and communications specialists, the TIACC is an industry-wide initiative aimed at developing a solution for TSN conformance. The CLPA, collectively with all other leading organizations, will develop and agree to a single common conformance test plan to certify TSN-compatible products, in line with the IEC/IEEE 60802 TSN profile for Industrial Automation.
The resulting methodology and practices will be released for use to the entire industrial automation ecosystem. By doing so, the TIACC partners will promote the alignment of TSN-compatible solutions from different vendors, which is essential for the development of converged industrial automation networks.
The CLPA’s commitment to TIACC is in line with the organization’s overarching strategy to drive the easy integration and openness of networks and devices from multiple vendors. In effect, the CLPA has a history of successful collaborations with other TIACC members, such as OPCF and PI, delivering interoperability and companion specifications aimed at maximizing transparency between the different protocols available.
To further support interoperability, the CLPA also continuously invests in its standardized, global network of conformance testing facilities. These are engaged in the evaluation of devices that use CC-Link IE TSN, the first open industrial gigabit Ethernet with TSN functions. Using this real-world experience, and as part of TIACC, the association can contribute to the creation of robust practices to ensure TSN conformance.
Tom Burke, global strategic advisor at CLPA, said: “We are proud to be part of the TIACC and look forward to supporting the creation of a common test plan for TSN-compatible products. This is a key step in the realization of the smart, data-driven e-Factories of the future, as they require next-level interconnectivity and data sharing. To achieve this, first-rate unified communications across different network devices are a must. The CLPA has a proven history of driving key activities to achieve this goal and now we are embarking on the latest step in this journey to benefit automation vendors, machine builders and end users globally.”
