Real-time network performance characterization: Locbus v.s. RTnet

The aim of this project is to get insight how Real-time Ethernet behaves with respect to the field bus called Locbus. By writing a benchmarks for both systems the characterisations of both buses is performed. The transmission is time, the time which necessary to get the data to and of the card. Variability of measured data or so-called jitter is also determined. From the research it becomes clear that Ethernet is faster than Locbus. Locbus however is assumed more stable because the protocol is generated in the hardware. The test for this statement could not be performed because interrupts are not supported by the Locbus hardware. For large quantities of data Real-time Ethernet is recommended using, because then the speed will play a larger role. To get a better insight if it is realisable for a field bus to be replaced by Real-time Ethernet it is advised to build a test set-up which uses Real-time Ethernet.