[FAQ] MCU-PLUS-SDK-AM243X: EtherCAT MainDevice with TI sitara devices(AM263Px/AM261x/AM243x/AM263x/)

Hi,

TI does not offer EtherCAT MDevice software solutions for MCU devices. But several partners do have EtherCAT MDevice solutions for AM2x Sitara Devices(AM261x/AM263Px/AM263x/AM243x)

3P solutions:

 See PROCESSORS-3P-SEARCH and industrial protocols tab:

Codesys is a RT Linux solution, but the other partners do also support RTOS-based solutions. Support for newer Sitara parts like AM64x might not yet be directly announced on their web pages.

Please review the EtherCAT MDevice training series explaining the solution on older TI devices  - ethercat MDevice on sitara processors training series

Open source suggestions:

openethercatsociety.github.io/

Using the TI Linux SDK you can probably write an application level EtherCAT MDevice. Above source mentioned is a starting point. I must mention that TI has not tried this stack and currently has no plans to my knowledge to support the EtherCAT MDevice stack on the MCU devices.

I need to point out that the TI Linux SDK-based filesystem is going to launch several network daemons that will send out discovery packets on whatever EtherCAT network interface you choose. These discovery packets can impact EtherCAT cycle times.

BR

Nilabh A.