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Linux/PRU-ICSS-INDUSTRIAL-SW: BeagleBone Black as EtherCat Slave

Part Number: PRU-ICSS-INDUSTRIAL-SW
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AM3359, AM4379, AMIC110

Tool/software: Linux

Hi,

Did Beaglebone Black support EtherCat Slave.

I know that AM335x processor has hardware support to build an EtherCAT slave using PRUs.
I'm not sure if it's possible to use BBB pins to implement it.


Could anyone give me a feedback about it? 

Regards

Deepa

  • Hi,

    BBB does not have the necessary hardware for supporting EtherCAT Slave. You will need the ICEv2 board for this: www.ti.com/.../TMDSICE3359
  • Hi Biser,

    Thank you for your quick response.
    What changes can we make to beaglebone black to work it as EtherCat slave( like Hardware changes).

    Thanks and Regards
    Deepa
  • None. This simply cannot be done without designing an entirely different PCB.
  • Hi Biser,

    Thank you for your response.

    www.ti.com/.../spry187h.pdf

    In the above link they are mentioned like any PC can be use as EtherCat Master. Can TwinCAT is used as EtherCat Master and is any extra hardware setup is required for connecting to EtherCat slave.

    Regards
    Deepa
  • Hi Biser,
    Please provide me the valuable information for the following. As i am new to the EtherCAT i need these information.
    1.Using AM3359 IC how to design a EtherCAT slave controller?
    2. Can we use AM4379 IC for EtherCAT slave controller ?
    3. Whcih Beagle Bone version can support EtherCAT slave?
    4. Which is the best and cost effective development board for EtherCAT slave?
    5. Why cant we use Beagle Bone Black as a EtherCAT slave using Ethernet protocol?
    6. BY changing the mode in Ethernet type cant we use Beagle Bone Black Ether Type[0x08A4 specifies EtherCAT] why cant we use normal ethernet ? As only frame format will change from EtherNET and EtherCAT or is there a memory mapping / register mapping difference or PRU difference.
    7. What is the major difference between EtherNet and EtherCAT with respect to both HArdware and software wise ?

    Thank You

    Regards,
    Deepa M
  • Hi Deepa, let me jump here

    1) You can download PRU-ICSS EtherCAT slave from TI.com. Note you would also need Processor SDK (PSDK), as our PRU-ICSS Industrial Software runs on top or TI-RTOS PSDK

    2) Yes you can use AM4379. Supported devices are listed in above link.

    3) Beagle board is not  a supported platform for PRU-ICSS EtherCAT slave.

    4) Probably AMIC110. This is the smallest supported platform.

    5) I am not too familiar with BB, but at least in a quick look it only has one Eth port (no sure if only for CPSW or if PRU-ICSS can be routed). EtherCAT slave needs 2 ports for Ethercat frames on-the-fly processing.

    6) EtherCAT frames are quite different from regular Ethernet frames. It is not only the Ethernet type what changes. I would suggest to check Beckhoff documentation for more detailed information.

    7) EtherCAT is designed for fast, reliable communication between master and slaves. Typical configuration is in daisy chain. Frames are processed on-the-fly in every slave. A frame is the summation of all the information between master and slaves and goes through all the network and come back to the master (logical ring). On the other hand Ethernet is a best-effort protocol, topologies includes switches and routers. Traffic is not expected to be in cycles (real-time). Typically UDP/TCP is used for routing the packets (more overhead).. There are more differences, but just to covers some.

    thank you,

    Paula