PROFINET-IRT and PROFIdrive Software Stack for Renesas MPUs

Renesas has introduced its first certified PROFINET software stack for its RZ/T and RZ/N series of microprocessors (MPUs), which now support both PROFINET IRT (Isochronous Real-Time) and PROFIdrive. The initial software versions are tailored for specific applications, with the RZ/T2M MPU targeting servo motor control and the RZ/N2L focusing on industrial internet gateway applications like remote-IO or industrial Ethernet devices. By utilizing Renesas MPUs with this software stack, customers can streamline the certification process for their devices.

PROFINET stands out as the leading industrial Ethernet protocol for automation systems, enabling high-speed communication in industrial automation equipment. The PROFINET IRT, known for its precise and time-sensitive data transfer capabilities, is particularly well-suited for real-time applications such as servo drives and motion control systems.

The certified PROFINET IRT stack implementation covers all essential features necessary for industrial equipment communication, including PROFINET RT communication. This software supports cyclic data exchange with a PROFINET IO controller, handling diagnostic, process, and status alarms, as well as plug and pull alarms. It also manages IP addresses and device names via PROFINET and through the device application, offering features like fast startup functionality, shared device support, media redundancy (MRP), and system redundancy (S2).

“With the integration of our network stack, we anticipate further market success for our RZ/T and RZ/N MPUs. PROFINET, being the market-leading industrial protocol, is a key focus for us, and we have integrated the Siemens PROFINET IRT Device Development Kit into our devices,” stated Mohamed Dogar, Vice President of Embedded Processing Business Acceleration at Renesas.

“Our collaboration with Renesas has resulted in their first certified PROFINET IRT solutions using the Siemens PROFINET Device Development Kit,” mentioned Efrossini Tsouchnika, Vice President Control at Siemens Digital Industries. This integration offers industrial customers seamless options within the PROFINET ecosystem.

PROFIdrive plays a crucial role in the seamless integration of variable speed drives, servo motors, and other motion control devices into automation systems, ensuring efficient communication and operation. By standardizing data exchange between devices, PROFIdrive provides essential parameters like speed, torque, and position for precise control of drives. It supports real-time communication through PROFINET IRT and conventional Ethernet, offering flexibility across various industrial applications.

Renesas has implemented a certified PROFIdrive application example for Application Class 4 on the RZ/T and RZ/N MPUs. This includes a drive object with a speed setpoint interface, supporting cyclic data exchange via standard telegrams and acyclic data exchange through the PROFIdrive parameter channel. The application also covers PROFIdrive diagnostics, the state machine for the PROFIdrive General State Machine, the PROFIdrive encoder channel, and the simulation of a drive control system.

Binary versions of the PROFINET stack for the RZ/T2M and RZ/N2L MPUs are now available on the Renesas website for evaluation. Customers interested in commercial use can obtain licenses directly from Renesas, further simplifying the process of embedding drive systems into their automation solutions.