Preface: The Demand for Industrial Ethernet in the Industry 4.0 Era
Industry 4.0 is an era of intelligence achieved through the application of information technology. Smart factories are one of the main application scenarios of Industry 4.0, utilizing intelligent devices and information technology to achieve automation, intelligence, and flexibility in production and management processes. Connecting various production equipment, PLCs, sensors, instruments, industrial robots, CNC machine tools, and other devices within the smart factory to achieve device networking and data sharing, thereby achieving collaborative work and optimized management, helps improve production efficiency, reduce production costs, and enhance product quality.
How to achieve industrial interconnection and enable MODBUS RTU to communicate through network ports?
What is Modbus RTU？
Modbus RTU is a serial communication protocol used to connect industrial electronic devices such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), sensors, actuators, etc. This protocol defines a message structure that allows communication between these devices to achieve data transmission and control instruction execution. The main features of Modbus RTU protocol include:
- Serial communication: It adopts a serial communication method and is suitable for communication between devices through physical connections such as RS-232, RS-485, etc.
- Master slave mode: Communication is based on a master-slave architecture, where one device acts as the master and is responsible for initiating communication requests, while other devices act as slaves and respond to the master's requests.
- Message structure: defines the structure of the message, including device address, function code, data, and error checking, to ensure the correct transmission and processing of information.
- Wide compatibility: The Modbus RTU protocol is widely used in various industrial automation systems due to its openness and ease of implementation.
The difference between Modbus RTU and Modbus TCP
Modbus RTU and Modbus TCP are two different communication methods, with differences in data transmission speed, data transmission methods, and applicable scenarios. Modbus RTU is more suitable for data transmission between remote devices, while Modbus TCP is more suitable for real-time data transmission between devices.
Application areas of Modbus RTU
Industrial Automation
With the continuous development of industrial automation, Modbus RTU is widely used in various industrial automation equipment, such as PLC, sensors, etc. Through Modbus RTU, we can achieve remote monitoring and control, improving production efficiency.
Internet of Things
The development of IoT technology has also provided more application scenarios for Modbus RTU. By connecting various devices to the network, we can achieve remote monitoring and control of the devices, improving their intelligence level.
Other Fields
In addition to industrial automation and the Internet of Things, Modbus RTU can also be applied in other fields such as smart cities, smart transportation, smart homes, etc.
Can MODBUS RTU also communicate through Ethernet ports?
There are various mature devices on the market that can convert MODBUS RTU (serial port) to MODBUS TCP (Ethernet interface) for communication, commonly referred to as protocol converters, gateways, or serial servers. Here are some common product types:
1.Modbus Protocol Gateway: These gateways support multiple Modbus protocols, including Modbus TCP/RTU/ASCII, and have protocol conversion capabilities.
2.Protocol Converter: This type of device can convert the MODBUS RTU protocol to the MODBUS TCP/IP protocol, enabling data transmission over Ethernet.
3.Serial port server: A serial port server is a device that can convert serial communication into network communication, allowing MODBUS RTU devices to communicate over the network.
4.Interface Converter: Some interface converters are capable of converting between Modbus RTU and Modbus TCP.
5.Industrial IoT gateway: These devices not only support protocol conversion, but also provide additional IoT functions, such as data collection, edge computing and cloud connection. The solution based on a low code management platform mentioned in can simplify the development process, reduce costs, and improve development efficiency.
Communication diagram
To achieve Modbus RTU communication through Ethernet ports, a serial to Ethernet converter is usually required.
In this diagram, the serial device is connected to a converter through an RS-485 interface. The converter converts Modbus RTU protocol packets into Modbus TCP/IP format and sends them to the network via Ethernet. After receiving the data, the receiving device performs corresponding operations or responses.
Epilogue
Modbus RTU has many advantages for remote transmission, including low cost, high transmission efficiency, and strong anti-interference ability. In the future, with the continuous development of technologies such as the Internet of Things and low code, the combination of Modbus RTU and Ethernet ports will be more widely used, providing stronger support for industrial automation and intelligence.
In the future, there will be more and more IoT devices, and data transmission will become an important issue for IoT applications. By combining Modbus RTU with Ethernet ports, data transmission of various IoT devices can be achieved, meeting the data transmission needs of different scenarios. Meanwhile, with the development of low code and other technologies, data transmission will become simpler, faster, and more efficient. Therefore, the combination of Modbus RTU and Ethernet ports will play an important role in future IoT applications and have broad application prospect.