Ethernet Cable Showdown: Cat5e vs. Cat6 – Features, Benefits, and Recommendations

Cat5e vs Cat6: Unraveling the Ethernet Cable Conundrum for Modern Networks

Evolution and Selection of Power over Ethernet (PoE) Standards for Modern Network Infrastructure

PoE vs PoE+ vs PoE++ Switch: Powering the Future of Network Connectivity

This is the first article in a 7-part series examining solutions for robot control. The series looks into solutions for power, data, and signal, necessary to push the role and capabilities of industrial robots. This series is sponsored by <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/mouser.electronics" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a>, an online distributor of electronic components. Through their sponsorship, Mouser Electronics is dedicated to sharing knowledge about the possibility of a greener, more reliable, and better-connected manufacturing future.Robots on the smart factory floor are enabling incredible efficiency gains in manufacturing. New robotic equipment paired with sensors and connectivity allows for pervasive and ubiquitous data collection about operational status and effectiveness. &nbsp;This goes for processes happening both before and after the goods being manufactured come in contact with that equipment. Now, the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) of a given robot may be measured, controlled, and improved upon with precision and flexibility once thought impossible.&nbsp;The <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-engineer-s-guide-to-industrial-iot-and-industry-4-0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">smart factory</a> is a major leap forward from traditional automation to a fully connected and flexible system that can use data from operations to continually learn and improve. Yet to ensure this, industrial robots and machines need the connectivity to ensure the flow of data. &nbsp;<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjI5MTkzODQ5NTAyLXRyaWZsZXgtZmFudWMtcm9ib3QucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Image 1: Connectivity is making industrial robots smarter.&nbsp;</div><h2>Connected Devices Across the Smart Factory</h2>The critical factor is not the mechanics and productivity of these robots in isolation, but rather how the machines are connected reliably in harsh manufacturing environments. In this connected environment, they work in unison towards the smart factory&rsquo;s ultimate goals. Critical and reliable connections facilitate the gathering and routing of enormous quantities of data points from the robots and their manufacturing environment.&nbsp;However, this interconnectivity must be accomplished without an untenable amount of power supplies, headers, cabling, shielding for that cabling, and proprietary onboard computing systems to physically accommodate and maintain.&nbsp;<h2>Ethernet for Industrial Connectivity</h2>Globally, the industrial engineering and automation communities have spent years hashing out a common pathway to develop more straightforward and more sophisticated connectivity for network infrastructure. What is the best choice for connecting the smart factory, from the sensors at the tip of a robotic arm to the analytical &lsquo;brain&rsquo; in the computing cloud?Ethernet may be the best choice of technology for industrial connectivity, based partly on how automotive networks are making a step-function jump up in their network speed and power capability by working within an Ethernet framework. Automotive Ethernet is overcoming many limitations of serial bus protocols, helping provide the reliable and fast connectivity new vehicles need. Industry of all types can learn from the example of automotive manufacturers here.&nbsp;Rather than having smart factory floor network systems created using a layered build-up of serial, bus, and partial Ethernet, a better, more flexible system may be implemented by using Ethernet everywhere. This flexibility requires the industrial networking ecosystem to map a pathway from where they are to a <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-future-of-wired-communication-infrastructure-single-pair-ethernet" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Single Pair Ethernet (SPE)</a> future.&nbsp;Designed to meet the needs of the IIoT, Single Pair Ethernet is a cable configuration that uses on pair of copper wires to transmit data at speeds of up to 10 Mbps (with potential to go to 1 GB/s in the future), while also supporting up to 52 watts of DC power in order to provide reliable power to devices and sensors that may not have their own power source. SPE&nbsp;To establish the future SPE ecosystem, an industrial partner network including companies such as Harting and TE Connectivity are setting standards for transmission protocols, cabling, and device components. Members of the partner program, as well as the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 25/WG 3, are in close exchange cooperation with IEEE 802.3 and IEC SC46C for uniform transmission standards and copper data cables.On January 23, 2020, the international standard for Single Pair Ethernet interfaces in industrial applications was published with IEC 63171-6. According to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), this standard provides the most robust specification type that industrial environments need.<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjI5MTkzMjczNjY2LUpFU1MgTkVXLTAxICgxKS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 2: SPE provides a connection from the cloud to the sensor.&nbsp;</div><h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Connecting Data to Multiple Systems</h2>Advances in connectivity are going to benefit many smart factory stakeholders. Robotic equipment makers will integrate connectors and headers and even get dual-functioning power and data signals via a single cable and connector. The beauty is the ease with which they will all connect and feed data to vital software systems, be that the manufacturing execution system (MES) or further up at the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, with less complexity in cabling and subsystems.This article was initially published by Mouser and TE in an<a href="https://www.mouser.com/news/teroboticssebook/mobile/index.html#p=1" target="_blank">&nbsp;e-magazine</a>. It has been substantially edited by the Wevolver team and robotics writer Dillon Garrison. It&#39;s the first article of a 7-part series exploring solutions for robot control. Future articles provide an overview of servo motor connections, discuss the role of digital twins in robot connectivity and look at trends in manufacturing automation. &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/connectivity-enables-new-efficiency-gains-for-robots-in-manufacturing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/connectivity-enables-new-efficiency-gains-for-robots-in-manufacturing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a>Article one&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/connectivity-enables-new-efficiency-gains-for-robots-in-manufacturing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">looked at gains made by improved connectivity in industrial settings.&nbsp;</a>Article two&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/high-performance-connectivity-in-robotics" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">looked at the quality of connectors for harsh environments.</a>Article three <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/motion-control-in-robotics-4-types-of-motors-for-industrial-robots" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">provided an overview of common motor types.&nbsp;</a>Article four <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/6-connectivity-solutions-for-industrial-robotic-applications" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">listed 6 Connectivity Solutions For Industrial Robotic Applications.&nbsp;</a> Article five&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/cobots-and-iiot-create-a-synergistic-working-relationship" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">explores cobots and connectivity.</a><h2 dir="ltr">About the sponsor: Mouser Electronics</h2><a href="https://eu.mouser.com/" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a> is a worldwide leading authorized distributor of semiconductors and electronic components for over 1,100 manufacturer brands. They specialize in the rapid introduction of new products and technologies for design engineers and buyers. Their extensive product offering includes semiconductors, interconnects, passives, and electromechanical components.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjI4ODU3NzEyMjQ1LUdvb2QgbW91c2VyIGJhbm5lciBmb3IgYXJ0aWNlbHMuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">

Article #1 Robot Control Series. Key players are working together to implement single pair ethernet for a fast, connected manufacturing future. 

Connectivity Enables New Efficiency Gains for Robots in Manufacturing

This is the third article in a <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/software-control-as-a-differentiator-in-the-automotive-industry-" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">5-part series</a> exploring the future of mobility. The series looks into which technologies enable rapid advancements in the efficiency, safety, and power of the vehicles of tomorrow.&nbsp;The series looks into which technologies are enabling the necessary rapid advancements in efficiency, safety, and power. This series is sponsored by <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/mouser.electronics" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a>, an online distributor of electronic components. Through their sponsorship, Mouser Electronics is dedicated to supporting a future of connected and efficient mobility. &nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted" data-element-id="headingsMap-4-0">Introduction</h2>Today’s automobiles are data centers on wheels. Features such as collision detection, lane departure warnings, and autonomous driving are a reality and will be globally implemented in the next decade. But these safety features need vast amounts of secure data processing, networking, and storage capabilities within the vehicle. A good example is the higher data throughput necessary for <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/how.advanced.driverassistance.systems.adas.impact.automotive.semiconductors" target="_blank">advanced driver-assistance systems&nbsp;(ADAS)</a> such as those found in rearview or surround-view camera systems.Ethernet/In-Vehicle Network (IVN) could bring the capability necessary. Ethernet connectivity is provided at high-speed communications over a ubiquitous physical network in the vehicle.&nbsp;How is this achieved?This article explores&nbsp;the various single-pair Ethernet standards and explains how they work together to create an optimum automobile communication network for everything from camera, video, and GPS to more critical safety systems.<h2 dir="ltr" data-element-id="headingsMap-5-0">Single-Pair Ethernet (SPE)</h2>Traditional Ethernet cabling, which has been the standard for most Ethernet cables worldwide, uses two pairs of wires to transmit data (1). On the other hand, <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-future-of-wired-communication-infrastructure-single-pair-ethernet" target="_blank">single-pair wire Ethernet</a>, a network technology, with bi-directional, twisted, and unshielded wiring for automotive Ethernet is the enabler of parallel, high-performance transmission of data. Supporting also the so-called power through Power over Data Line (PoDL) from sensors on to the cloud.It is expected that this technology will enable lighter and lower-cost cables to take up less volume in the vehicle while reducing the chances of electromagnetic discharges. Lighter cables also mean improved gas mileage. For those engineers concerned about installation, the use of single pair wire should be simpler.&nbsp;Single-Pair Ethernet technologies are standards-based technologies. The first two IEEE standards for this are <a href="https://standards.ieee.org/standard/802_3bw-2015.html?utm_source=beyondstandards&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=eip-atd-2020" target="_blank">802.3bw</a> and <a href="https://standards.ieee.org/standard/802_3bp-2016.html?utm_source=beyondstandards&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=eip-atd-2020" target="_blank">802.3bp</a>. They are identified as 100BASESE-TX. &nbsp;These two standards are 100BASE-T1 and 1000BASE-TI technologies capable of 100Mbps/15m and 1Gbps/40m speed and distance limits, respectively. These standards-based technologies will easily meet future automotive needs.&nbsp;These two standards are driving pioneering applications such as in-car innovations like&nbsp;in-vehicle communications, measurement and arbitration, diagnostics via&nbsp;Diagnostic Communication over Internet Protocol (DoIP),&nbsp;and communications between electric vehicles and charging stations. Ethernet provides the vehicle with a flexible, modular structure that is also well tailored for specific security solutions in the vehicle. Ethernet is secure over the internet as well.<h2 dir="ltr" data-element-id="headingsMap-6-0">Standard Ethernet vs. Automotive Ethernet</h2>Ethernet technology is used for in-vehicle communication, measurement and calibration, and diagnostics via DoIP. This is the packaging of diagnostic messages in Ethernet frames to communicate a diagnostic tester with a vehicle. Vehicle access with DoIP is backward compatible using discretionary pins of the existing diagnostic connector. DoIP enables easy integration into various network structures, even with WLAN.<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjI1NTYzOTExNzA5LUlNQUdFIDUtMDEgZWRpdGVkLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 1: Characteristics of standard versus automotive Ethernet (3)</div>Automotive Ethernet is a different, more demanding technology than traditional Ethernet (See Figure 1). All automotive-grade Ethernet products will need to be AEC-Q100-qualified and support the automotive industry’s Production Part Approval Process (PPAP).One main difference between automotive and standard Ethernet is that EMC and temperature environments are far harsher in the automobile. A higher Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) is also needed for higher reliability in automotive technologies. Repeatability/higher MTBF and predictability are critical in the automobile for safety because failures can cause injuries and even loss of life. Safety/<a href="https://www.iso.org/standard/68391.html" target="_blank">ASIL</a> (ISO26262) compliance is necessary.Hardware qualification is required in some <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/automotive-in-vehicle-networks---ethernet-or-serdes-well-it-is-complicated" target="_blank">Automotive Ethernet</a> applications. Lower latency is usually required in the vehicle’s drivetrain for fast reactions at highway and road vehicle speeds. Validation of Electronic Control Unit (ECU) hardware and software are also required. A typical vehicle will have more than 100 ECUs that control braking, engine, transmission (drivetrain) steering, cameras, wireless communication, and more.<h2 dir="ltr" data-element-id="headingsMap-7-0">Present-Day In-Vehicle Technology</h2>Various communication systems currently exist within a typical automobile, including CAN, LIN, and FlexRay, to name a few (see Figure 2). These systems are predicted to remain in the automobile for a while longer while IVN technologies powered by Ethernet slowly become the common denominator. The future of automotive networking is Ethernet, especially single-pair Ethernet, which can transport data over a link 100x faster than the present CAN bus.&nbsp;<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjI1NTc1NTQ3MjAxLUlNQUdFIDYtMDEgZWRpdGVkLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 2 In-Vehicle technologies (4)</div></div>The 100BASE-T1 standard was first introduced in series production cars in 2013, and the technology was standardized in 2015 for single balanced twisted-pair cable in IEEE 802.3bw;<ul><li dir="ltr">IEEE Standard for Ethernet Amendment 1: Physical Layer Specifications and Management Parameters for 100Mb/s Operation over a Single Balanced Twisted Pair Cable (100BASE-T1).&nbsp;</li></ul>An example of a 100BASE-T1 Ethernet PHY Transceiver is LAN8770. (see the Ethernet Evaluation board <a href="https://www.mouser.de/new/microchip/microchip-evb-lan8770-rmii-board/" target="_blank">EVB-LAN8770-RMII,</a> a plug-in card that interfaces directly with a mating Microchip host processor or controller board.)The next-gen 1Gb/s technologies are also in automobiles today; 1000BASE-T1 defined in 2016 in;<ul><li dir="ltr">IEEE Standard for Ethernet Amendment 4: IEEE 802.3bp™, Physical Layer Specifications and Management Parameters for 1Gb/s Operation over a Single Twisted-Pair Copper Cable), and&nbsp;</li></ul>The 1000BASE-RH defined in 2017 in <a href="https://standards.ieee.org/standard/802_3bv-2017.html?utm_source=beyondstandards&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=eip-atd-2020" target="_blank">IEEE 802.3bv™</a> is also of significant importance;<ul><li dir="ltr">IEEE Standard for Ethernet Amendment 9: &nbsp;Physical Layer Specifications and Management Parameters for 1000Mb/s Operation Over Plastic Optical Fiber.&nbsp;</li></ul>Two other new IEEE standardized spec speeds are at 10Mb/s in <a href="https://standards.ieee.org/standard/802_3cg-2019.html?utm_source=beyondstandards&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=eip-atd-2020" target="_blank">IEEE 802.3cg™</a> and 2.5/5/10 gigabits per second in <a href="https://standards.ieee.org/standard/802_3ch-2020.html?utm_source=beyondstandards&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=eip-atd-2020" target="_blank">IEEE 802.3ch™</a> and were published in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Work is underway to standardize greater than 10Gb/s (<a href="https://standards.ieee.org/project/802_3cy.html?utm_source=beyondstandards&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=eip-atd-2020" target="_blank">IEEE P802.3cy™</a> and <a href="https://standards.ieee.org/project/802_3cz.html?utm_source=beyondstandards&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=eip-atd-2020" target="_blank">IEEE P802.3cz™</a>).After 2021, all major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) should have introduced the <a href="https://beyondstandards.ieee.org/general-news/10base-t1s-the-next-big-step-toward-the-all-ethernet-vehicle/" target="_blank">100BASE-T1</a> specification for transmitting at 100Mb/s data rate over unshielded cables in production automobiles. With the rapid evolution of vehicle networking systems, the 100BASETX family is foreseen to replace most other in-vehicle communication systems and help lower vehicle cost.<h2 dir="ltr" data-element-id="headingsMap-8-0">Competing Communication Technologies&nbsp;</h2>The 100Mb/s and 1000Mb/s Ethernet address clear-cut speed gaps for IVN technology. New speed grades in Automotive Ethernet encounter more competition in both lower (FlexRay, various CAN variants, and A2B audio bus) and higher-speed areas (SerDes, USB, and PCIe). Usually, specialized technologies have an advantage in the beginning since they are tailored for specific use cases and cost-optimized for those areas. For example, the 2.5/5/10G Base-T1 will be implemented in 2025 for ADAS and autonomous vehicles (see the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/2020.autonomous.vehicle.technology.report" target="_blank">2020 Autonomous Vehicle Technology Report</a>) with an average of more than 100 Ethernet ports per vehicle.Technologies developed for a single-use case can quickly become monolithic and high cost when applied to other uses. Globally standardized technologies like Ethernet grow to be augmented by a qualification ecosystem such as test houses, vendors, intelligent tools, training, and a diversified product portfolio that is critical to OEMs in areas such as risk mitigation. Despite this challenge, global applications of Ethernet are becoming more visible, and physical layer network technologies such as single-pair Ethernet are allowing to cover major ranges in industrial areas beyond the automotive.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr" data-element-id="headingsMap-9-0">Conclusion</h2>The automotive industry around the globe is constantly transforming the path forward for the standardized in-vehicle network (IVN) foundation and IEEE 802.3 Ethernet or <a href="https://standards.ieee.org/project/802_1DG.html?utm_source=beyondstandards&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=eip-atd-2020" target="_blank">P802.1DG</a> are helping to build the road for fast and secure Ethernet systems. Single-pair Ethernet is now a regular standard solution used by all major OEMs in series production cars from 2021 on. Global automotive decision-makers need to keep up and march at the same speed of technological transformation to bring the industry together and answer the difficult questions about network communications within the vehicle by ensuring reliability, performance and overall safety. Ethernet will most likely be the winner because it can offer the best solution on all software and protocol stack layers.This article was initially published by Mouser and Microchip in an <a href="https://www.mouser.com/ebooks/microchip-future-mobility" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">e-magazine</a>. It has been substantially edited by the Wevolver team and engineer <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/nicolas.sarmiento.sierra" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nicolas Sarmiento Sierra</a>. It's the third article of a 5-part series exploring the technologies that enable the future of mobility. Future articles will examine the cybersecurity concerns in connected vehicles, discuss solutions for fast charging, and dive into how ethernet can deliver optimum data networks. &nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/software-control-as-a-differentiator-in-the-automotive-industry-" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">first article</a>&nbsp;looked at software control.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-rise-in-automotive-electronic-controls-prompts-cybersecurity-concerns" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">second article</a>&nbsp;examined cybersecurity concerns in connected vehicles<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted" data-element-id="headingsMap-10-0">About the sponsor: Mouser</h2><a href="https://eu.mouser.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a> is a worldwide leading authorized distributor of semiconductors and electronic components for over 1,100 manufacturer brands. They specialize in the rapid introduction of new products and technologies for design engineers and buyers. Their extensive product offering includes semiconductors, interconnects, passives, and electromechanical components.<h2 data-element-id="headingsMap-11-0">References:</h2>1. &nbsp; &nbsp; Helukabel. Single Pair Ethernet [Internet]. 2015. Available from: https://www.wiso-net.de/document/KONP__76628ae3018b1385b369c4f867dacc373f803eb22. &nbsp; &nbsp; Media WB. Single pair Ethernet in the context of IIoT [Internet]. [cited 2021 Jun 16]. Available from: https://www.controlsdrivesautomation.com/Single-pair-Ethernet3. &nbsp; &nbsp; Keysight Technologies. From Standard Ethernet To Automotive Ethernet Automotive Ethernet Tip #1 Ethernet [Internet]. Keysight Technologies; 2019. p. 1–2. Available from: www.keysight.com4. &nbsp; &nbsp; Onsemi. Basics of In-Vehicle Networking ( IVN ) ON Semiconductor products Major IVN technologies overview [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2021 Jun 15]. Available from: https://www.onsemi.com/

Today’s automobiles are data centers on wheels. This article explores the various single-pair Ethernet standards and explains how they work together to create an optimum automobile communication network for everything from camera, video, and GPS to more critical safety systems.


singlepairethernet

Latest Posts

Cat5e vs Cat6: Unraveling the Ethernet Cable Conundrum for Modern Networks

PoE vs PoE+ vs PoE++ Switch: Powering the Future of Network Connectivity

Connectivity Enables New Efficiency Gains for Robots in Manufacturing

Automotive Ethernet Provides an Optimum Data Network