Industrial Automation Controller

Application

Description

Complete FPGA-based control solution for industrial automation using ESIONTECH industrial-grade FPGA with real-time processing and multiple protocol support.

Core Advantages

Parallel processing architecture outperforms sequential processors
Single-chip integration reduces board complexity
FPGA flexibility enables field upgrades
Industrial-grade reliability for harsh environments
Comprehensive protocol support eliminates gateways

Recommended Bill of Materials (BOM)

Item Part Number Description Quantity Datasheet
1 ESI20K-IND Industrial FPGA Controller 1 📄 Download
2 Isolated DC-DC 24V to 3.3V isolated power 2 📄 Download
3 Ethernet PHY Industrial Ethernet transceiver 2 📄 Download
4 Protection Circuits TVS and isolation components 20 📄 Download

Technical Specifications

Logic Capacity
20,000 LUTs
I/ O Count
100 industrial I/O pins
Communication
EtherCAT, Profinet, Modbus TCP
Motion Control
4-axis synchronized control
Processing
100MHz control loop frequency
Temperature
-40°C to +85°C
Safety
SIL 2 capable architecture

Customer Success Stories

Automation Equipment Manufacturer

Factory Automation |

Challenge

Needed flexible controller supporting multiple protocols for different customers

Solution

Implemented ESIONTECH FPGA-based controller with configurable protocols

Results

  • Reduced controller variants from 5 to 1
  • 50% reduction in inventory costs
  • Field protocol configuration capability
  • Passed CE and UL certification

CNC Machine Builder

Machine Tools |

Challenge

Required high-speed multi-axis control with custom interpolation algorithms

Solution

Deployed ESIONTECH FPGA controller with custom motion control IP

Results

  • Achieved 1ms control loop time
  • Custom spline interpolation implemented
  • 50% faster processing than previous DSP solution
  • Improved surface finish quality

FAE Expert Insights

R

Robert Liu

Senior FAE - Industrial Systems

Professional Insights

Having implemented this industrial controller solution for multiple customers, I can share key insights. The ESI20K-IND's industrial-grade reliability is genuine - we've had zero field failures in harsh factory environments. The key to success is proper I/O protection design. Industrial environments have extreme EMI and voltage transients. Follow the reference design's protection circuits exactly. For motion control, leverage the FPGA's parallel processing - implement multiple axes in parallel rather than sequentially. This gives you deterministic timing that's impossible with processors. Protocol implementation is straightforward using ESIONTECH's IP cores. One customer replaced five different PLC variants with a single FPGA design, dramatically simplifying their supply chain.

Key Takeaways

  • Follow reference protection circuits exactly for reliability
  • Use parallel processing for deterministic multi-axis control
  • Leverage ESIONTECH IP cores for protocol implementation
  • Plan for SIL certification early if required
  • Long-term supply agreements essential for industrial

Decision Framework

Solution Selection Decision Framework
Steps:
  1. Evaluate application requirements and performance metrics
  2. Compare solution advantages considering cost and supply chain
  3. Reference success cases and customer feedback
  4. Consult FAE for professional recommendations

Ready to Implement This Solution?

Contact our FAE team for design support and quotes

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Frequently Asked Questions

What protocols are supported?

The Industrial Automation Controller supports major industrial protocols: (1) Ethernet-based - EtherCAT, Profinet, Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP. (2) Fieldbus - Profibus DP, CANopen, DeviceNet. (3) Legacy - Modbus RTU, RS-485 protocols. (4) Safety - PROFIsafe, CIP Safety. (5) Custom - Implement proprietary protocols in FPGA. Protocol stacks provided as IP cores from ESIONTECH. Multiple protocols can run simultaneously on the same FPGA.

Contact LiTong for protocol implementation details.

How fast is the control loop?

Control loop performance: (1) Typical Loop - 1ms cycle time for standard control. (2) Fast Loop - 250μs for high-performance motion. (3) Deterministic - Jitter less than 10μs guaranteed. (4) Parallel Processing - Multiple loops run simultaneously without interference. (5) Interrupt Response - Sub-microsecond response to events. (6) Synchronization - Multiple axes synchronized within 1μs. The FPGA architecture provides deterministic performance impossible with sequential processors.

Contact LiTong for control loop optimization.

Can it achieve SIL certification?

SIL certification capability: (1) SIL 2 - Achievable with proper architecture and diagnostics. (2) SIL 3 - Possible with dual-channel redundant design. (3) Architecture - Includes safety processor, redundant channels, diagnostics. (4) Documentation - Safety manual and FMEDA available. (5) Testing - Certified test labs for validation. (6) Process - Typical 6-12 month certification process. LiTong provides safety system design support and documentation.

Contact LiTong for SIL certification planning.

What I/O is available?

Industrial I/O capabilities: (1) Digital Input - 24V industrial, optically isolated. (2) Digital Output - 24V sourcing/sinking, short-circuit protected. (3) Analog Input - 4-20mA, 0-10V, 16-bit resolution. (4) Analog Output - 4-20mA, 0-10V, 12-bit resolution. (5) Encoder - Quadrature encoder inputs. (6) PWM - High-resolution PWM outputs. (7) Count - 100+ I/O pins available. All I/O protected for industrial environments.

Contact LiTong for I/O planning and interface design.

How do I program the controller?

Programming the controller: (1) FPGA Design - Use ES-Designer for HDL development. (2) Control Logic - Implement in Verilog/VHDL or use graphical tools. (3) IP Cores - Use pre-built protocol and control IP. (4) Simulation - Verify design before hardware. (5) Download - Program via JTAG or Ethernet. (6) Updates - Field-upgradable bitstream. (7) Debugging - On-chip logic analyzer support. Complete tool chain from ESIONTECH.

Contact LiTong for programming training and support.