Avnet Introduces Multi-Protocol Industrial Ethernet Solution

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a leading global technology distributor, introduced the new MicroZed™ Industry 4.0 Ethernet Kit (I4EK), enabling multi-protocol Industrial Ethernet solutions based on the Xilinx® Zynq®-7000 All Programmable SoC and Anybus® technology from HMS Industrial Networks. Offering seamless hardware and software integration across networks, the I4EK allows designers creating leading edge applications in smart factory automation such as networked sensors, actuators and motor control to avoid months of development and debug of their embedded systems. 

The I4EK out-of-box reference design demonstrates a Slave EtherCAT® controller executed entirely in the programmable logic of the Xilinx Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC. A soft master is executed on a host PC using Beckhoff TwinCAT software. Reference designs for EtherCAT, Ethernet Powerlink, PROFINET® RT/IRT, EtherNet/IP™ and Modbus-TCP protocol are provided by the Anybus IP from HMS Industrial Networks. In order to help speed development, no fees are required for evaluation versions of these reference designs and they are enabled after signing an evaluation license with HMS. 

Customers can use the I4EK to evaluate HMS Anybus® IP for Xilinx built upon the award-winning Anybus CompactCom™ technology, which provides the most widely used protocols with a unified API. Deployed products are licensed with a tiny single-wire security chip. 

“This kit brings together production-ready embedded hardware and IP to simplify the task of developing equipment that supports multiple high performance Industrial Ethernet protocols,” said Matt Brown, technical marketing engineer, Avnet Electronics Marketing. “Designers use the MicroZed SOM and Anybus IP for evaluation, prototype, and product deployment, which takes months off product development cycles.” 

“Avnet's new I4EK provides a fast and cost-efficient way for product managers, system architects and developers to prototype and create differentiated products with the unmatched versatility of Xilinx Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoCs and the field-proven performance and compatibility of HMS Anybus IP for all major Industrial Ethernet slaves,” said Michael Zapke, marketing manager for industrial applications from Xilinx. “This is how Avnet, HMS and Xilinx are helping to drive the vision of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0.” 

“HMS has created a suite of the five major Industrial Ethernet protocols within Anybus IP so engineers designing with the Xilinx Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC can now have the option of using PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, Powerlink and Modbus TCP with the same interface and functionality,” said Christian Bergdahl, Product Marketing Manager at HMS. “Using the MicroZed Industry 4.0 Ethernet Kit (I4EK) from Avnet, and downloading the Anybus IP demo firmware from HMS, designers can easily evaluate the best-in-class Anybus IP for Zynq.” 

MicroZed™ Industry 4.0 Ethernet Kit includes:

•             MicroZed 7020 SOM
•             ISM Networking FMC Module II
•             MicroZed FMC Carrier
•             JTAG HS3 High Speed Xilinx Programming Cable
•             microSD card
•             Ethernet and USB cables
•             12V power supply
•             Quick Start Card

EtherCAT reference design and Anybus IP tutorial downloads 

For more information on the new MicroZed™ Industry 4.0 Ethernet Kit, please visit http://microzed.org/i4ek.