Now in its ninth year, the LEAP Awards program highlights engineering innovation from around the world. Once again, an independent panel of expert judges reviewed this year’s submissions and named gold, silver, and bronze winners across multiple categories. The 2026 winners in industrial automation span an AI co-pilot for industrial connectivity, a programmable automation controller […]
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Winners announced in the 2026 LEAP Awards motion control category
The winners of the 2026 Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program (LEAP) Awards were just announced in a digital ceremony, with products across numerous categories — including Motion Control. The LEAP Awards are judged by the engineering community itself. Each year, the Design World editorial team assembles an independent judging panel made up of OEM design […]
Why aviation’s electric future depends on overlooked motor technology
Electric aviation will arrive through thousands of incremental improvements in electric motors, power electronics, thermal management, controls, materials, certification, and manufacturing — one subsystem at a time. But more than the technologies that dominate headlines, electric motors will help determine how efficient, reliable, and electrically capable the next generation of aircraft becomes. Duggan Flanakin · […]
Part 4 of 4: EtherCAT and power, CANopen, and cybersecurity
In this four-part article series, we cover the fundamentals and new innovations related to EtherCAT. In this final installment, we detail Power over EtherCAT and EtherCAT P, the CANopen over EtherCAT or CoE application profile, and EtherCAT’s compliance with the European Union’s Cyber Resilience Act. We also cover motion-control and other EtherCAT applications, emerging alternatives such as OPC UA FX and CAN XL, and functional safety with FailSafe over EtherCAT or FSoE.
Part 3 of 4: EtherCAT’s stable versioning
In this four-part article series, we cover the fundamentals and new innovations related to EtherCAT. In this installment, we detail the stable versioning that keeps 2004-era EtherCAT devices compatible with EtherCAT G networks, the speed, latency, bandwidth, and throughput figures that distinguish EtherCAT from other industrial Ethernet protocols, and how it handles cyclic and acyclic communications. We also compare EtherCAT distributed clocks with the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol and Time-Sensitive Networking or TSN and survey the EtherCAT components available to machine builders.
Part 2 of 4: Ethernet CRCs and FCSs in industrial protocols
In this four-part article series, we cover the fundamentals and new innovations related to EtherCAT. In this installment, we detail how EtherCAT detects errors with cyclic redundancy checks, frame check sequences, and working counters; how EtherCAT subdevice controllers take the place of standard Ethernet switches and MAC and IP addressing; and how the application layers of Modbus TCP, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, and EtherCAT compare. We close with the IEC and ISO standards and the EtherCAT Technology Group or ETG that govern the protocol.
Part 1 of 4: EtherCAT then and now
In this four-part article series, we cover the fundamentals and new innovations related to EtherCAT. In this installment, we detail how EtherCAT emerged at Hannover Messe 2003 as a hybrid of Lightbus deterministic communication and Ethernet, the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet layers and frame structure at its core, and how it compares with PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, and CC-Link IE. We also explain the on-the-fly frame processing and dedicated EtherType that give EtherCAT its performance edge.
Arrowfly launches AI for engineers, the definitive news desk, conference, research, and advisory board for engineers navigating AI
Arrowfly, an award-winning B2B media and marketing company, today announced the launch of AI for Engineers, a year-round resource for engineers and technical leaders applying artificial intelligence in their work. Anchored by Arrowfly’s network of 20+ flagship engineering brands, collectively reaching 2.1 million verified industry readers, 29 million website visitors, 1.6 million email subscribers, and […]
Edge-computing hardware comparison
Consider a dominant form of machine control today — multicore industrial PCs or IPCs built around x86 and ARM system-on-chip processors. For discrete automation, these run deterministic control and a general-purpose OS on the same silicon. Machines advanced enough to justify such hardware include industrial networking via SERCOS III, EtherCAT, PROFINET, or EtherNet/IP to carry […]
Advanced monitoring coming soon to a machine near you with maxon MIND
Soon, a new “motion insights and diagnostics” service from Swiss precision-drive specialist maxon called maxon MIND will help machine builders and plant engineers add condition monitoring and diagnostics capabilities to their equipment. Electric motors are often the best sensor in a machine. After all, the motor signals a controller already reads reflect the condition of […]
