Xilinx FPGA Simplifies Development of Real-time Ethernet Networks

Xilinx, Inc. introduced the first market-specific Targeted Design Platform optimized for industrial automation system design with low-cost, low-power Xilinx Spartan-6 field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The Xilinx Industrial Automation Targeted Design Platform is meant to accelerate development of real-time Ethernet networks enabling high-speed connectivity and reliable communications..

Industrial equipment developers can now integrate multiple Ethernet protocols and custom processing algorithms into industrial network and automation systems using a single Spartan-6 FPGA as a reprogrammable alternative to application-specific standard product (ASSP) or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) implementations. The new platform offers a complete development environment tailored specifically for industrial applications, including network gateways or bridges, programmable logic controllers (PLC), machine vision systems, as well as a variety of embedded control systems.

"The worldwide market for industrial infrastructure and wireline networking products exceeded 5 million nodes in 2008 and is projected to grow over 10 percent annually through 2013(1). This convergence of automation technologies and ubiquitous industrial networks is being driven by new manufacturing business models, collaborative manufacturing initiatives, and the need for more energy and cost-efficient operations," said Mark Jensen, director of industrial, scientific and medical marketing at Xilinx. "Our Spartan-6 FPGA industrial automation platform provides the flexibility to address the different requirements of factory and enterprise networks and the scalability to develop highly integrated automation equipment while balancing energy efficiency and real-time performance."

The Industrial Automation Targeted Design Platform provides next-generation programmable technologies and smart design methodologies delivered in the Spartan-6 FPGA Industrial Ethernet Kit. The kit includes the Avnet Spartan-6 LX150T FPGA development board and industrial networking daughter card based on the industry-standard FPGA Mezzanine Card (FMC) specification(2), third-party evaluation EtherCAT core from Beckhoff, ISE Design Suite Embedded Edition software environment, and an EtherCAT Targeted Reference Design. Future add-ons for the Industrial Ethernet Kit will offer additional daughter cards and reference designs to enable faster time to market for designing factory automation applications.

"Avnet is pleased to offer designers a full-featured, versatile development platform that can help with their Industrial Networking applications," said Jim Beneke, vice president of global technical marketing at Avnet Electronics Marketing. "This kit provides a great deal of flexibility and expandability that developers will appreciate as they explore their design options."