A Platform for Constructing Precision Electric Drive Control Systems Based on the EtherCAT Industrial Fieldbus

Authors

  • Дмитрий [Dmitriy] Александрович [A.] Осипов [Osipov]
  • Лев [Lev] Николаевич [N.] Рассудов [Rassudov]

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24160/1993-6982-2025-4-31-36

Keywords:

mechatronic systems, EtherCAT, real time control systems, Linux, open-source software

Abstract

EtherCAT fieldbus technology is intended to construct systems for real-time control of precise mechatronic systems. In many cases it can be convenient to deploy the EtherCAT master device on a PC along with other drivers, software components, and user interfaces. In that case, the use of the Beckhoff TwinCAT software would be a commonly adopted solution. Unfortunately, in view of the currently existing political environment, this software is not accessible. The aim of the article is to find a solution that would make it possible to set up a platform for designing an electric drive control system using the EtherCAT industrial fieldbus entirely on the basis of open-source software components. Such solution would make it possible to ensure production security of domestic equipment manufacturers. The proposed solution is based on an open-source Ubuntu operating system with a patched core, tuned to ensure high-performance real-time synchronization of the algorithms computed in the master and slave devices. For implementing the EtherCAT master’s stack, the open-source IgH EtherCAT master software was chosen. For developing the web-application for the human machine interface, the CppCMS open-source software development tool was used. Experiments were carried out, the results of which have shown that the proposed platform can technically replace TwinCAT in the field of precision mechatronics with an acceptable cycle time jitter of a few microseconds at the considered EtherCAT bus cycle frequencies of 1 kHz and 4 kHz. However, the newly proposed platform has a significant drawback in comparison with TwinCAT, which has been under development for several years to fit the specifics of EtherCAT fieldbus. The proposed tool is currently far from being quite convenient for a developer and requires far more competences in information technologies, networking, and low-level code development skills. The future efforts will be taken to improve the platform and supplement it with tools to expedite commercialization of domestically produced systems based on the EtherCAT industrial fieldbus.

Author Biographies

Дмитрий [Dmitriy] Александрович [A.] Осипов [Osipov]

Engineer of Electric Drives Dept., NRU MPEI, e-mail: osipovdma09@gmail.com

Лев [Lev] Николаевич [N.] Рассудов [Rassudov]

Ph.D. (Techn.), Assistant Professor of Electric Drives Dept., NRU MPEI, e-mail: rassyd@mail.ru

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Для цитирования: Осипов Д.А., Рассудов Л.Н. Платформа для построения систем управления прецизионными электроприводами по промышленной шине EtherCAT // Вестник МЭИ. 2025. № 4. С. 31—36. DOI: 10.24160/1993-6982-2025-4-31-36
#
1. Nguyen H., Nguyen T. P., Ngo H.Q.T. Using EtherCAT Technology to Launch Online Automated Guided Vehicle Manipulation with Unity-based Platform for Smart Warehouse Management. IET Control Theory and Appl. 2023;1:229—243.
2. Ghonge N. P. Computed Tomography in the 21st Century: Current Status and Future Prospects. J. Intern. Medical Sci. Academy. 2013;26:35—42.
3. Rosenblatt E., Zubizarreta E. Radiotherapy in Cancer Care: Facing the Global Challenge. N.-Y: Intern. Atomic Energy Agency, 2017.
4. Beckhoff Information System [Elektron. Resurs] https://infosys.beckhoff.com (Data Obrashcheniya 01.11.2024).
5. Calvo F. e. a. Intraoperative Radiotherapy with Electrons: Fundamentals, Results, and Innovation. Ecancermedicalscience. 2013;7:339.
6. Ivan M., Ernek M., Miklovicova E. TwinCAT Control of CNC Machine over CoE. Proc. XXII Intern. Conf. Process Control. Štrbské Pleso, 2019:91—96.
7. BECKHOFF Automation and IntraOp Medical of U.S.A. Innovative Radiation Therapy Uses Flexible PC-based Control Platform. PC Control Magazine. 2013;2.
8. Nwador A.F., Sanubi F.A., Clark E.V. Sanctions as Tool for Strategic Deterrence: an Assessment of Targeted Sanctions in Russia. J. Public Administration, Finance and Law. 2023;27:544—565.
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11. CODESYS for Users [Elektron. Resurs] https://www.codesys.com/index.php?eID=tx_securedownloas&p=151&u=0&g=0&t=1727454954&hash=99216d01707bd2386e33d37e8a99afdb44f&file=/fileadmin/Download/EN/Brochures/CODESYS-Anwender-en.pdf (Data Obrashcheniya 02.12.2024).
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21. Oliveira D.B., Oliveira R.S. Timing Analysis of the PREEMPT RT Linux Kernel. Software Practice and Experience. 2015;46(6):789—819.
22. Choi B.W., Shin D.G., Park J.H., Yi S.Y., Gerald S. Real-time Control Architecture using Xenomai for Intelligent Service Robot in USN Environment. Intelligent Service Robotics. 2009;2(2):139—151.
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26. Bejlis (Tonkih) A. CppCMS — C++ Web Framework [Elektron. Resurs] http://cppcms.com/wikipp/ru/page/main (Data Obrashcheniya 02.12.2024).
27. Bejlis (Tonkih) A. Case Study: CppCMS Benchmarks vs Java, C#, PHP [Электрон. ресурс] http://cppcms.com/wikipp/en/page/benchmarks_all (Data Obrashcheniya 02.12.2024).
28. JSON-RPC 2.0 Specification [Elektron. Resurs] https://www.jsonrpc.org/specification (Data Obrashcheniya 02.12.2024).
29. Atodiresei A., Băutu A., Simona D. Optimization of Sensor Data Gathering Interface for Platmarisc Project. Sci. Bulletin of Naval Academy. 2023;26(2):136—143
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For citation: Osipov D.A., Rassudov L.N. A Platform for Constructing Precision Electric Drive Control Systems Based on the EtherCAT Industrial Fieldbus. Bulletin of MPEI. 2025;4:31—36. (in Russian). DOI: 10.24160/1993-6982-2025-4-31-36

Published

2025-06-24

Issue

Section

Electrical Complexes and Systems (2.4.2)