Robo/TSN - Network Virtualization and Acceleration for Converged OT/IT
The “missing link” to run state-of-the-art virtualized IEC 61131-3 PLC software on modern cloud infrastructure
Situation
- Proprietary PLCs and IPCs cause significant costs for maintenance and modifications. Being closed systems, cloud connectivity and AI adoption is hampered.
- Security compliance is hard as many legacy fieldbus protocols are difficult to protect.
Proposal - Convering IT/OT with Robo/TSN
We propose a converged OT/IT infrastructure based on open standards that:
- Uses State-of-the-Art security mechanisms
- Provides scalability and flexibility to run Your AI
- Improves Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
- Runs virtualized PLCs on open standard servers
- Connects with installed fieldbus I/Os on Your Factory Floor
Robo/TSN is fully transparent and backwards compatible with legacy protocols. To mitigate risks, Robo/TSN can be introduced step-by-step, without changes to the PLC software.
Benefits
Openness has greatly benefited other industries like automotive, aerospace, banking, datacenters and - finally - OT:
No vendor lock-in, higher flexibility and better long-term-availability
Robo/TSN utilizes open standards protocols, open-source software and, if desired, even open-source hardware.
Cost reduction
Virtualization enables system scalability and flexibility while allowing centralized maintenance and configuration. This improves Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and reduces Development Time.
Meets today’s cyber security requirements
Robo/TSN can use PQC for data transfers to protect against tampering or man-in-the middle attacks, for example.
Opens-up use of AI
Real-time process data and code is centralized, more flexibility in manufacturing flow management. OT becomes open and scalable to run Your AI!
Remove the Barriers in Your OT!
Contact us to join our Early Access Program to validate Robo/TSN in Your environment – and together with others shape the future of open, AI-ready OT infrastructure!
How Does Robo/TSN Work?
MLE has developed breakthrough network virtualization technology that can be applied to existing IT network infrastructure to securely “tunnel” OT fieldbus protocols to connect IT infrastructure with existing sensors and actuators on the factory floor – fast, safe, secure, and always on-time. Now, You can add connections without adding wires!
Robo/TSN has two sides that make it all work:
- SmartNICs in the servers connect a Factory Cloud with existing multi-Gigabit Ethernet-based IT networks, effectively forming the Robo/TSN.
- Access Points on the Factory Floor connect sensors and actuators in automation cells with Robo/TSN, effectively connecting the virtualized PLCs.
Hardware Acceleration for Bandwidth and Hard Real-Time
Hardware-based network protocol accelerators on either side guarantee high-accuracy time synchronization and low, deterministic transport times measured in micro-seconds – fast enough for high-data rate sensors and for motion-control with hard real-time constraints.
Hardened Security
Hardware-based Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) engines on either side secure the connections and protect all data in-flight.
High-Speed Sensor Interfaces
Cameras, Radar, Lidar sensors can be connected using common industrial or consumer protocols such as MIPI CSI-2 or GMSL2 or GigEVision or PCIe or else.
Technical Specifications
Based on modern, cost-optimized FPGA device technology from leading vendors, Robo/TSN provides an extensible platform to accommodate changes over the life-cycle and to support the many industry protocols, even EOL’ed or in-house protocols.
The following is an (incomplete) list of standards and specifications for Robo/TSN:
- IT Standards Supported
- PCI-SIG CEM 3.0, or newer, FHHL formfactor
- OCP 3.0 Open Compute Platform formfactor
- PCI Express 3.1, or newer, for typical server installations
- PCI Express 5.0, or newer, for advanced integrity and confidentiality
- IEEE 802.3ae (2002) for 10 Gigabit Ethernet over fiber
- IEEE 802.3an (2006) for 10 Gigabit Ethernet over twisted-pair copper (10GBASE-T)
- IEEE 802.3by (2016) for 25 Gigabit Ethernet
- IEEE 802.3cd (2018) for 50 Gigabit Ethernet (using PAM4)
- IEEE 802.3ba (2010) for 100 Gigabit Ethernet (10 lanes at 10 Gbps)
- IEEE 802.3bm (2015) for 100 Gigabit Ethernet (4 lanes at 25 Gbps)
- IEEE 802.3ck (2022) for 100 Gigabit Ethernet (single lane)
- IETF Internet Protocol IPv4
- Reliable transports via IETF TCP/IP and/or Quad-RP/IP
- OT Standards Supported
- IEC 61158 / IEC 61784 EtherCAT
- IEC 61158 / IEC 61784 ProfiNET
- CC-Link IE TSN
- CIA301 CANopen
- and more
- Security Standards Supported
- NIST 800-193, NIST PQC
- National Security Agency CNSA 2.0
- Trusted Computing Group (TCG) DICE
- FIPS 203 ML-KEM Key-Encapsulation Mechanism
- FIPS 204 ML-DSA Digital Signatures
- FIPS 205 SPHINCS+ Hash-Based Digital Signature
- IEEE 802.1AE-2018 MACsec
- IETF RFC 8446 TLS 1.3
- and more
- Time Synchronization Standards Supported
- IEEE 1588v2 Precision Time Protocol (PTP)
- IEEE 802.1AS Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) Time Synchronization
- IEEE 1588-2019 (HA Profile) Precision Time Synchronization (a.k.a. CERN White Rabbit), or MLE “Light Rabbit”
- and more
- Time-Sensitive Networking Standards Supported
- IEEE 802.1Qav Credit Based Traffic Shaper
- IEEE 802.1Qbv Scheduled Traffic
- IEEE 802.1Qcr Async Traffic Shaping
- IEEE 802.1CB Frame Replication & Elimination (optional)
- and more
Robo/TSN SmartNIC for Industrial Network
- Linux device drivers (GPL sources)
- Application-specific expert design service
- Appliance implementation
- License for ASIC/ FPGA Full System Stack
- Pre-configured SmartNIC PCIe-Card, ready-to-run
Documentation
Coming soon
Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz Institute
Founded in 1949, the German Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft undertakes applied research of direct utility to private and public enterprise and of wide benefit to society. With a workforce of over 23,000, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is Europe’s biggest organization for applied research, and currently operates a total of 67 institutes and research units. The organization’s core task is to carry out research of practical utility in close cooperation with its customers from industry and the public sector.
Fraunhofer HHI was founded in 1928 as “Heinrich-Hertz-Institut für Schwingungs- forschung“ and joined in 2003 the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as the “Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institut„. Today it is the leading research institute for networking and telecommunications technology, “Driving the Gigabit Society” .
Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems
Fraunhofer IPMS is a worldwide leader in research and development services for electronic and photonic microsystems in the fields of Smart Industrial Solutions, Medical & Health applications and Improved Quality of Life. Innovative products can be found in all large markets – such as ICT, consumer products, automobile technology, semiconductor technology, measurement and medical technology – products which are based upon various technology developed at Fraunhofer IPMS.