Communication Champ or Just a Wanna-Be

There are some who still believe that Ethernet can't survive on the factory floor. Yet, as Industrial Ethernet gains in popularity, its acceptance may be further accelerated by the advances in power-over-Ethernet (PoE). There is little doubt that having one network that both communicates with and powers devices is a distinct benefit. Can this configuration work? Have we fully considered power needs, system design flexibility, safety, integration, and so on? Can it be a contender with Fieldbus – and do we even need another communications option?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Data Acquisition, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Data Acquisition today.