Understanding the Benefits and Installation Requirements of TSN
Industrial automation requires strong networking capabilities to minimize communication delays between systems and machines. Even a delay of a single millisecond could lead to downtime issues which can be costly.
Time-sensitive networking (TSN) is seen as a viable option capable of meeting the fast communication needs of various industrial automation applications. TSN is part of the Ethernet standard. As explained by NI (formerly known as National Instruments), TSN is an update to the IEEE Ethernet protocol which adds standard time synchronization and deterministic network communication to control systems using Ethernet technology.
TSN is said to offer the advantages of Ethernet as well as improvements in timing and control – both important aspects for automation applications where precision is an important factor. It is defined by the IEEE 802.1 standard established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE); companies like NI and many others are working with IEEE as well as other organizations to further the development and adoption of TSN.
Learn more about TSN and the benefits it can offer to various applications in the below articles.
Given the potential many see in TSN, its adoption is expected to grow in the coming years. Market research firm MarketsandMarkets is projecting TSN will achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 58.3% through 2028. This is due to increased demand for automation in industrial applications.
Per the MarketsandMarkets report, rising digitalization of industrial processes is driving use of TSN as well as industrial automation where the technology is seen to provide opportunities to better optimize production while reducing downtime and maintenance costs.
Industrial networking technology developer Moxa sees continued growth opportunities for TSN as well. The company has outlined the benefits of adopting TSN, and the potential challenges associated with deploying the technology which are summarized in this article.
The Benefits of Adopting Time-Sensitive Networking
According to Moxa, there are five key benefits offered by TSN. Using a home appliance manufacturer as an example, the company outlines these benefits and how specifically they helped to improve operations for the manufacturer.
1. Deterministic Communication
The low-latency, deterministic traffic scheduling of TSN allowed for precise control and synchronization of production line devices. This enhanced real-time control and overall system responsiveness, crucial for maintaining high performance in data-intensive environments.
2. Interoperability
TSN enabled the seamless integration of diverse production equipment from different vendors, simplifying network management and optimization. This streamlined network management and optimization ensured consistent compatibility and performance throughout the production line.
3. Convergence of IT and OT
By unifying information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) systems on a single network, TSN streamlined operations, reduced overhead, and enabled faster decision making.
4. Simplified Network Complexity
TSN consolidated network communications into a single, simplified architecture based on standard Ethernet, reducing complexity and costs while allowing for easy scalability.
5. Enhanced Productivity
TSN’s ability to prioritize control data and ensure timely transmission enhanced productivity for the manufacturer, resulting in reduced downtime, faster response times, and increased equipment effectiveness.
By adopting TSN, Moxa said the appliance manufacturer was able to improve its operational efficiency and productivity as well as get closer to achieving its overall company efficiency and precision goals.
Potential Challenges with TSN Implementation and How to Overcome Them
While TSN offers many benefits to industrial automation applications, just like any other new technology there can be some challenges associated with implementing it.
Moxa pointed to three key challenges which should be taken into consideration when adding TSN to an operation:
- Growing Data Volumes
- Network Management Complexity
- System Compatibility.
The amount of data generated by an operation continues to increase as the level of automation rises and more devices are connected to networks. Having the ability to handle higher bandwidths will be critical, particularly as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning continue to grow in use as part of many industrial automation systems.
As such, Moxa recommends companies implementing TSN choose solutions which support full Gigabit speeds on each port. This will help to ensure robust network performance as well as enable the high-bandwidth and low-latency communication capabilities vital for the real-time data exchange that allows for the precise control and responsiveness required of industrial automation.
Managing a TSN network can become complex as more devices are added to it. Moxa said management and configuration tools such as Central Network Controllers (CNC) can help simplify this process although they do require technology investment, training and continued maintenance which can feel daunting an operation.
The company suggests looking for intuitive management tools such as web-based graphical user interfaces (GUI) as they can help to simplify setup and management.
Understanding potential space constraints is important as well. Space is already at a premium in many industrial facilities and adding more devices can prove challenging. Therefore, sourcing equipment with a compact and adaptable design is recommended as it can ease integration by minimizing the amount of space required or reconfiguring of existing machinery.
Ensuring compatibility when implementing TSN is vital as well. Per Moxa, using products that adhere to relevant testing specifications or are integrated into established testbeds makes achieving a smooth TSN implementation easier by guaranteeing compatibility and reliability.
However, it does note this can be both time-consuming and resource-intensive and may require specialized expertise. Working together with companies and organizations familiar with TSN and the various solutions available can help to overcome this and ease the spec’ing and installation process.
Understanding the benefits associated with TSN as well as the factors to monitor when implementing the technology will help determine if it is the right networking option for a given industrial automation application.
This article is based on one written and provided by Moxa which originally appeared on the company's website.
