Kithara Software has added PROFINET RT support via EtherCAT bridge terminals to Kithara RealTime Suite for EtherCAT-based real-time applications on Windows systems.
The first supported option is the Beckhoff EL6633-0010 terminal, which enables data exchange between EtherCAT and PROFINET RT in the Device role. Communication is integrated directly into the existing real-time environment.
The implementation integrates with EtherCAT DataSets, allowing transmitted process data to be mapped within existing structures and processed alongside other data. This lets existing EtherCAT applications incorporate PROFINET data without creating a separate data structure.
The extension connects EtherCAT and PROFINET RT within a single real-time application, providing additional options for heterogeneous automation environments.
Kithara plans to add support for corresponding bridge terminals operating as Controller/I-Device in a further development step, making both connection variants available in Kithara RealTime Suite.
