BU Multimedia Solutions of the Prysmian Group is technology partner in the newly founded Alliance for SPE posted: 20/04/2020 SPE System Alliance: New alliance for the expansion of SPE technology
Cologne, 20th April, 2020. The Multimedia Solutions (MMS) division of the Prysmian Group has joined the newly created SPE System Alliance. In this open alliance, leading technology companies from various industries and fields of application have come together to bundle their respective SPE expertise and ensure the target-oriented exchange of this knowledge. The partners in this group are pursuing the goal of driving the development of SPE further forward for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and may branch out to other areas as well. The main initiators of the technology partnership are Phoenix Contact, Weidm ller, Reichle & De Massari (R&M), Fluke Networks and Teleg rtner. In addition to MMS, Daetwyler, Kyland, Microchip Technology, Rosenberger, Sick, O-Ring and University4Industry have joined the alliance. Further information is available at www.singlepairethernet.com.
Synergies in the SPE System Alliance
The network aims to collaborate on the technological challenges faced when implementing SPE in IIoT applications. The goal of the companies is to accelerate their own development of expertise in SPE technology and to allow it to be implemented faster and more reliably in their products.
Through this orientation toward a cross-industry and cross-application exchange platform, companies from all future SPE ecosystems are coming together. The focus is not, however, on individual aspects such as connection technology. Instead, the focus is on questions and challenges that continue to exist with many market participants in connection with SPE. Rule exchange formats and collaborative project activities provide the freedom for close cooperation. The members are already working together in the first sub-communities, in the fields of connection technology, standardization, SPE use-case reports, and even for cable solutions, among others.
The potential of SPE technology is enormous. The foundation of the SPE System Alliance is an important milestone to fully exploit this potential. The Alliance brings together experts from different fields for constructive exchange and promotes the joint development of solutions for the implementation of SPE in IIoT applications, says Andreas Wassmuth, Business Development Director of the MMS Business Unit. We are pleased to be able to play an active role in the rapid and broad establishment of SPE through our membership.
Thanks to its broad lineup, the SPE System Alliance already covers a large range of applications and fields of application:
SPE in the automotive field - impetus from the automotive industry
Ethernet systems are being installed increasingly in the vehicle generations of today. Through the networking of control devices and sensors, further innovations in the fields of driver assistance systems such as LiDAR, high-resolution displays, autonomous driving, 4K cameras, and infotainment can be realized.
The development of the automobile Ethernet has led to the creation of two IEEE standards: 100BASE-T1 (100 Mbps based on BroadR-Reach technology) and 1000BASE-T1 (1 Gbps). Limit values for the connectors and cables and the associated measurement methods were defined from the demands on the overall channel. The partner company Rosenberger played a leading role in the standardization in both standard committees in the fields of automotive connector design, signal integrity, and EMC.
SPE in the automotive field - impetus from the automotive industry
SPE for building automation
The Internet of Things (IoT) allows smart buildings and factories to become a reality more easily and cost-effectively. With this IP protocol, LED lamps, switches, sensors, thermostats, machine control systems, and motors for window blinds are connected via the local data network and the cloud to the building management system. Application-specific fieldbus systems are no longer needed, meaning that gateways, complex interfaces, and different protocols are not necessary either. With the structured ceiling cabling (the Digital Ceiling), intelligent building automation can be combined via IP seamlessly. This simplifies installation, maintenance, and network management. In most cases, high data rates are not needed, but a high connection density is. SPE is considered an ideal addition for the Digital Ceiling. The existing cabling infrastructure can easily be expanded with SPE for higher port density. Both, R&M and Teleg rtner provide Digital Ceiling solutions and can show the implementation of SPE into such a system.
SPE in the passive industrial cabling field of connectivity
SPE provides consistent IP communication from the field level right through to the corporate level, and therefore from the sensor through to the cloud. As an alternative to today's fieldbus systems, this technology will revolutionize industrial data transmission. Standardized pin connector patterns form the basis for the barrier-free networking of a wide range of components and devices. Phoenix Contact, Weidm ller, R&M, Rosenberger, and Teleg rtner develop compact device and cable connectors in accordance with the standardized and fully compatible interfaces in accordance with IEC 63171-2 (IP20) and 63171-5 (IP67). The pin connector pattern can be integrated into all conventional and standardized connector versions (M8/M12) and enables efficient and future-proof cabling thanks to the high packing density and low space requirements.
SPE in sensor technology
Now, in addition to their use in classic automation technology, sensors are increasingly being integrated as intelligent data suppliers into IIoT applications via Ethernet networks. Due to the miniaturization of the connection technology
