General Evaluation of EtherCAT-Based Techniques in Various Industrial Systems: Review and Applications

The need for fieldbus is increasing due to the advancements in industrial control systems. Long transmission distances, high transmission speeds, and reliable real-time performance are crucial requirements for fieldbus technologies. As the demands of the current industry continue to grow, conventional fieldbus solutions struggle to keep up. Consequently, real-time industrial Ethernet technology has become more prevalent in various industries. One of the most widely adopted real-time industrial Ethernet networks is EtherCAT. Its popularity can be attributed to its excellent real-time performance, precise synchronization capabilities, support for numerous topologies, and versatile applicability. This paper aims to provide a valuable scientific reference for researchers engaged in studying EtherCAT.