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CAN in Automation

Profile specifications revised and improved

The CAN in Automation (CiA) association has released new versions of CiA profile specifications. They enable the development of interoperable devices.

One of the most implemented profiles is CiA 402 used in textile machines, for example (Source: Adobe Stock)

CiA established in 1992 counts today 751 members. One of the main objectives of the association is the development of profile specifications for classic CANopen, CANopen FD, and J1939 application layers. In total, CiA has released about 20 000 DIN-A4 pages of profile specifications.

In 2022, some of these documents have been just face-lifted, while others have been improved technically. New profile versions have been released for motor starters (CiA 442), subsea devices (CiA 443), container handling add-on devices (CiA 444 series), RFID devices (CiA 445), pumps (CiA 450), PLCopen motion controllers (CiA 452), power supplies (CiA 453), and energy measurement devices (CiA 458). The interface profile for wireless transmission (CiA 457) specifies the tunneling of Classical CAN frames and has been updated editorially. The profile for on-board weighing devices (CiA 459 series) has been improved, too.

Yao Yao, CiA technical group manager: “The generic CiA profile specifications can be mapped to different CAN-based application layers as well as other communication technologies. A typical example is the CiA 402 drives and motion control specification, one of the most implemented CiA profiles” (Source: CiA)

Next year, CiA starts to review additional profile specifications. This includes some parts of the application profile for energy management systems (CiA 454 series) and the entire profile family for weighing devices (CiA 461 series). It is also planned to finalize the review for modular I/O devices (CiA 401) as well as drives and motion control (CiA 402). “The CiA 401 and CiA 402 specifications are the most known CiA profile documents,” said Holger Zeltwanger, CiA Managing Director, “but there are some more gems. For example, the application profile for lift control (CiA 417 series) and the application profile for refuse-collecting vehicles (CiA 422 series).”

Interoperable devices are what system designers need. They want to buy products, which can communicate without configuration. Of course, this works just for the mandatory functionality as given in the profile specification. Optional functionality needs to be implemented in all involved devices. Sometimes, such functions require a configuration by a tool or host controller.

CiA profile specifications are developed within CiA technical groups. Before releasing them, CiA office doublechecks them technically and editorially. This improves the quality of the documents: Two pair of eyes are better than one. “We do even more,” explained Yao Yao, CiA technical group manager. “We have established a document release process, which includes a systematic review after a period of five years.”

hz

Publish date
2022-12-19
Company

CAN in Automation

Breadcrumb


Publish date
2022-12-19
Company

CAN in Automation

Breadcrumb