“In the automotive industry, SPE has proven to be a reliable technology for networking vehicle components, such as sensors, control units, and cameras, where it forms the basis for advanced technological developments, such as autonomous driving. SPE also opens up new possibilities for IoT applications in an industrial context. The technology truly excels in environments that require compact designs, high data rates, and long transmission distances,” says Thomas Keller, Industrial Product Manager at Rosenberger.
Industrial applications present challenges for connectivity solutions. These include longer transmission distances, increased electromagnetic interference, and extreme environmental conditions. Therefore, Rosenberger is developing its SPE portfolio with high-performance, robust, and standards-compliant solutions for a wide range of industrial applications, from installation in control cabinets to networking sensors and actuators in the field. A key focus is on SPE Industrial, a new connector face being developed in collaboration with other manufacturers and based on proven Single Pair Ethernet connections in the automotive industry.
Standardization for future applications
A decisive step towards the standardization of industrial SPE applications is the development of IEC 63171-7 to Edition 2 (ED2). This extension, initiated by the PROFIBUS Users' Organization (PNO), defines a uniform mating face for SPE connections in control cabinet and field installations. The aim is to create interoperability between manufacturers, which greatly facilitates integration and scalability in industrial automation.
The development and standardization of SPE enable the creation of reliable, compact, and powerful network architectures. The transfer of proven concepts from the automotive industry to industrial applications opens up a wide range of new possibilities for digitalization and automation in the Industrial IoT.
