Industrial Ethernet MCUs cut development time in industrial networks

By Gina Roos, editor-in-chief

Renesas Electronics Corp. introduced the RX72M Industrial Network Solution that reduces the development cycle of industrial slave equipment using the RX72M 32-bit industrial Ethernet microcontrollers (MCUs). The new RX72M solution includes an evaluation board, an operating system, middleware, and sample software.

Supporting approximately 70 percent of the communications protocols used in industrial network applications, the kit enables users to immediately launch slave equipment development, such as motor control blocks for compact industrial robots, programmable logic controller (PLC) devices, and remote I/O systems. The sample software includes: EtherCAT, PROFINET RT, Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, and OPC UA, as industrial Ethernet software, and PROFIBUS DP, Modbus, RTU/ASCII, CAN open, and DeviceNet, as fieldbus communication software.

Conformance testing has been confirmed for three major protocols — EtherCAT, PROFINET RT, and Ethernet/IP. According to Renesas, this allows developers to reduce the overall development time by as much as six months. In addition, the solution includes major protocols used in different countries and regions, which also helps to speed up evaluation of network connectivity.

The RX72M Industrial Network Solution will be available in Japan by December 2019 with OS, middleware, industrial networks support from Renesas’ partner companies. Global access will be available by October 2020.

The new solution will be showcased at Renesas’ booth at the China International Industry Fair in Shanghai, China, September 17 to 21, 2019 (booth number 6.1, E202).