Hello Viewers, We are pleased to present you exciting news and innovations from the world of WAGO in the new format of our WAGO webcast. The webcast about the WAGO I/O System Advanced describes the interesting features and benefits of the I/O System. If you have any questions, ask us at any time on LiveChat. If you prefer to watch the video at a later time, at which the chat function is not available, please get in touch with our Service Team through "Contact" on the WAGO website. Before we go into the actual content, allow us to introduce ourselves. My name is Jürgen Gorka, and this is my colleague Christian Bartelheimer. So let's get started! What’s this webcast all about? In the first place, we will look at the WAGO I/O System Advanced, the integration in the WAGO I/O System; the products,properties and performance; the structure and finally, what “made for TSN” means. In addition to the WAGO I/O System Advanced, WAGO has a wide range of other I/O Systems with different functionalities to match the given installation site. For example, the 750 Series – the well-rounded XTR for extreme application conditions and I/O System Field, the IP67 solution. WAGO Control Technology is also integrated in the I/O System Advanced. The PFC200 Advanced is based on the proven PFC technology from WAGO. Connectivity and speed are the foundations of modern production facilities. With the I/O System Advanced, WAGO has developed a top-notch solution that readily meets all the demands placed on upgradable automation systems in modern machinery and plant engineering. The I/O System Advanced combines the proven benefits and functionality of the 750 Series with an ergonomic design, error-preventive mechanics and outstanding performance. The WAGO I/O System 750 is completely integrated into the I/O System Advanced via a gateway, meaning the 750 Series modules can still be used. Plus, the I/O System Advanced is optimized for modern ETHERNET fieldbuses like ETHERNET IP, EtherCAT® and PROFINET. It offers superb performance, with short reaction times and high signal transmission synchronicity. The product range we start with in the first step consists of fast digital inputs and outputs with switching in the microsecond range, of 16-channel inputs and outputs and of supply and end modules. Add to this the gateway for the 750 Series, an EtherCAT® fieldbus coupler and the PFC200 Advanced as controller. The 750 Series modules are integrated into the I/O System Advanced via a gateway, so the over three hundred I/O modules of the 750 Series product range can be used. This opens up an incredible spectrum of applications with sub-buses, Ex i modules, power measurement and many other functionalities. The advantage here is, this does not impose any performance restrictions on the Advanced I/O modules. Now my colleague Christian Bartelheimer will explain certain aspects of the PFC200. I'd like to shift our focus to the PFC200 Advanced. This is our first controller from the I/O System Advanced and at the same time, a device from the PFC product group. First, let's take a look at the hardware. On the left side, we see two ETHERNET interfaces that offer all the possibilities for ETHERNET protocols. In the middle at the top are the head station LEDs, then the familiar operation mode switches you recognize from our control technology. We have a small lid that can be sealed as a security option, so unauthorized access can at the very least be detected. Below are the DIP switches, which can be used for quick access to the device – with them, the fourth octet of an IP address can be defined in a flash. We have a research button and, naturally, a microSD card for external data storage. At the very bottom is a USB service interface, configured as USB-C. On the right side is the supply module, which also comprises the connection to the internal bus. Here, too, we see more LEDs in the upper area. At the bottom is the terminal strip. This is the PFC200 Advanced hardware. Now that I have presented the hardware, I'd like to go on to the software. As previously stated, this device is from the PFC product group – thus, we have the same options as with all the other PFC devices. Because the PFC operating system is Linux®, we have a high level of security from the very start. Cybersecurity is only becoming more important, and is integrated into the device. Essentially, there are two ways to program these devices: First, the device can be used as a classic PLC; second, our own e!COCKPIT Engineering Tool can be used for programming. This gives me the ability to call on all known fieldbuses and protocols. Of course, we must keep in mind that the device has ETHERNET interfaces; therefore, all ETHERNET-based protocols can also be used. I can also use the configurators from e!COCKPIT to leverage the multifaceted possibilities offered by our integrated solutions. On the other hand, since I have Linux® as an operating system, I can even program the device in an open environment. This means I can use various open interfaces on the devices and employ available protocols and other options. I can create a totally individual solution for myself. One might also point out that these devices are also equipped with a docker interface, which allows integration of individual entire containers into the devices. Naturally, I also have the option of connecting devices to the cloud. This is referred to as “cloud connectivity” and opens a wide range of possibilities. All in all, I can also combine the best of both worlds – classic PLC and the benefits of open programming – to create a completely individual solution. At this point, I would like to once more take the opportunity to refer to our “Control Technology” webcast. In this video, we present further innovations from the hardware and software areas. Now I would like to touch on the topics of transparency and simplicity again. We have written these goals on our automation agenda in capital letters. They are both our motivation and aspiration. Surely I do not need to say very much about the topic “transparency” here. It is clearly recognizable in the software area, as seen in our image. Yet I would like to bring up one more small example for the topic “simplicity.” It is generally agreed that simplicity lies in the eye of the beholder. What for one could not be simpler or more obvious is often a major challenge to another, because prior knowledge and background are also factors here. At this time, an external tool is used to commission products from the PFC Controller group. This is not especially complicated; except that the tool must be repeatedly installed to set the devices into operation. In this regard, we have made a minor change on the PFC200 Advanced device. Now it can also be set into operation without using the external tool. Just connect the USB service cable and start the device, which then serves as an external hard drive and can be directly accessed through the website. This brings us to the Web-Based Management, through which the device can be set into operation. It is not my intent to sell you this as a major breakthrough here; but even at this point, it should be clear that this is fairly easier than before – and this is the claim we want to live up to. In addition to the PFC200 Advanced, naturally we have another head station for the I/O System Advanced. The EtherCAT® Fieldbus Coupler. It offers high performance for the I/Os and is specially designed for machinery and plant engineering because with it, fast I/O cycles of fifty microseconds can be run. We can synchronize the coupler through distributed clocks; the I/Os can be operated in synch with the fieldbus and of course, we can add 750 Series modules via the gateway here too. The entire setup is configured in the master through the modular device profile. To summarize, it can be said that we have a fast I/O bus with short cycle times – and that we synchronize the fast I/Os. When we look at this image, first we see two EtherCAT® nodes that are depicted together. One of these is the I/O System Advanced; here we see that the outputs in both nodes switch synchronously with an access time of one hundred microseconds. In the image on the right, we see that the synchronization between two different nodes is in the range between two hundred to four hundred nanoseconds. This is a remarkable speed – and that between different nodes. When we look at the I/O nodes of the I/O System Advanced, here we have the coupler and here the supply modules; here we have the input/output modules; here is another power supply with a fuse and then, here is the gateway for the 750 Series and 750 Series modules – all in a single node. A closer look at the I/O System Advanced modules reveals their modularity. For one thing, I can remove the wiring interface. For another, I can disconnect the electronics from the group and plug them back in to reattach the wiring interface. An audible click indicates it has been properly plugged in and the node is reconstructed. When we look even more closely at the modular structure, we have the wiring interface, the electronics and the base module. Yes, this is indeed advantageous when the electronics need to be replaced because the individual wires do not need to be detached; plus everything is prepared for upcoming developments. TSN is the future communication technology for automation. TSN combined with OPCOA is gaining ground as a worldwide standard. The so-called “Field Level Communication” was developed; as far as functionality is concerned, this goes well beyond conventional fieldbuses. And WAGO is actively shaping this approach. WAGO has already been giving demonstrations at trade fairs for some time now; for instance, in 2018 and again in 2019, we displayed the I/O System Advanced with a 31.25 microsecond cycle time synchronized via TSN. Our goal is to demonstrate a TSN coupler prototype that functions with OPCOA. The WAGO I/O System Advanced gives you all this in one controller. The system is equipped with the the outstanding performance, short reaction times and high synchronicity demanded by modern machinery and plant engineering. With integrated PFC control technology and easy-to-use, error-preventive mechanics, the 750 Series I/O Modules can continue to be used. It supports fast ETHERNET fieldbuses and is “made for TSN.” We hope we could bring you worthwhile and stimulating information about the new I/O System Advanced. And you may also want to use the “Meet the Speaker” function to join an exchange about the WAGO I/O System Advanced. If you have any questions, just get in touch with your usual contact partner or contact our Service Team through the WAGO website. Thank you for your interest!