The development of protype applications with sensors and actuators in the automation industry requires tools that are independent of manufacturer, and are flexible enough to be modified or extended for any specific requirements. Currently, developing prototypes with industrial sensors and actuators is not straightforward. First of all, the exchange of information depends on the industrial protocol that these devices have. Second, a specific configuration and installation is done based on the hardware that is used, such as automation controllers or industrial gateways. This means that the development for a specific industrial protocol, highly depends on the hardware and the software that vendors provide. In this work we propose a rapid-prototyping framework based on Arduino to solve this problem. For this project we have focused to work with the IO-Link protocol. The framework consists of an Arduino shield that acts as the physical layer, and a software that implements the IO-Link Master protocol. The main advantage of such framework is that an application with industrial devices can be rapid-prototyped with ease as its vendor independent, open-source and can be ported easily to other Arduino compatible boards. In comparison, a typical approach requires proprietary hardware, is not easy to port to another system and is closed-source.

This thesis investigates two aspects of the protocol IO-Link Wireless (IOL-W), a wireless derivative of the widely established network protocol for industry automation IO-Link (IOL). There is an increasing interest in using wireless solutions within the automation industry. The IOL-W protocol is developed to meet the needs of a wireless protocol that can meet the stringent reliability requirements of industrial applications. The first investigated aspect is whether it is feasible to port existing IOL stacks to IOL-W. The second aspect investigates the possibility to establish IOL-W communication using a generic hardware board supporting Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and IEEE 802.15.4, specifically the nRF architecture manufactured by Nordic Semiconductor. The properties and mechanisms of the physical layer of IOL-W are thoroughly researched. Afterward, two open-source IOL stacks are examined as potential candidates for protocol porting. From that examination, the main conclusion is that for a commercial project, it is more feasible to invest in a native IOL-W stack. Porting an IOL stack to IOL-W would be immensely time-consuming since it is not enough only to replace the code responsible for handling the physical layer. One would also need to modify the system management module embedded within every hardware layer. Lastly, the nRF hardware is examined, focusing on its radio capabilities. Several problems arose with the radio configuration and the CRC capability of the nRF boards from the subsequent investigation and experiments; therefore, it is concluded that this particular hardware is inappropriate for implementing IOL-W. / Den här uppsatsen granskar två aspekter av protokollet IO-Link Wireless (IOL-W), en trådlös version av det etablerade protokollet IO-Link (IOL). Det finns ett ökat intresse för trådlösa lösningar i Automationsindustrin och IOL-W protokollet är utvecklat för att bemöta det ökade behovet av pålitlig trådlös industriell kommunikation. Den första aspekten granskar huruvida det är möjligt att konvertera en IOL stack till en IOL-W stack. Den andra aspekten utreder om det är möjligt att etablera IOL-W kommunikation med hårdvara designad för Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) och IEEE 802.15.4, mer specifikt, nRF arkitekturen tillverkad av Nordic Semiconductor. Egenskaperna och mekanismerna av "physical layer" av IOL-W är grundligt undersökt. Två IOL stackar har granskats och det har undersökts huruvida det med rimlig arbetsinsats går att konvertera någon av dem till IOL-W stackar. Undersökningen kommer att huvudsakligen konstatera att, för ett kommersiellt projekt är det bästa alternativet att investera i en färdig IOL-W stack. Att konvertera en IOL stack till en IOL-W stack är en tidskonsumerande uppgift och kräver grundlig kännedom i både IOL och IOL-W, att ersätta dom nedre lagren av en IOL stack är inte en rekommenderad lösning, eftersom System management modulen kommer att behövas modifieras, då den är inbyggd i varje lager av abstraktions modellen. Till sist, kommer nRF hårdvaran att examineras, fokus kommer att ligga på radions förmåga och kompabilitet. Under projektet gång dök ett flertal problem upp med radio konfigurationen samt CRC förmågan, detta kommer att presenteras med flertalet granskningar och experiment. Slutsatsen av undersökningen blir att nRF hårdvaran inte är lämplig att använda som bas för en implementation av IOL-W.

Sjöfartshögskolan i Kalmar har kurser i bl.a. programmerbara styrsystem. För att undervisningen ska ta steget in i Industri 4.0 vill skolan först ha utlåtande om svårighetsgraden att implementera en IO-linkgivare i befintlig process. Syftet med arbetet var att installera och konfigurera en IO-linkgivare i skolans ånganläggning för att på så sätt kunna utvärdera implementeringsarbetets svårighetsgrad. Detta sattes sedan i relation till att istället installera en traditionell analog tryckgivare. Genom att göra en installation och konfiguration implementerades IO-linkgivaren och för kontroll av funktion genomfördes en provning mot befintlig mätutrustning som referenser. Resultatet visade på en relativt komplicerad implementering men ett noggrant mätvärde samt många möjligheter utöver det. / The Maritime Academy in Kalmar wanted to learn about how the implementation of IO-link sensors in a steam process could be used in teaching. The work aimed to investigate how an IO-link sensor works and provide input to develop the content of the school's programming courses. This was done by first implementing a new pressure sensor (IO-Link) in a steam process and then performing the electrical installation in the existing automatic cabinet. In the control cabinet, the existing PLC system was expanded with an IO link master for communication between sensor and PLC system. The result was a fully functional IO link sensor that transferred the vapor pressure in the system to the PLC system. As the IO link sensor for this purpose does not use many of the functions that may be sought in an IO link sensor, it becomes an expensive and complicated installation. If the teaching and course content are developed to use more of the IO link donor's competence, it can justify a higher purchase price and a more complicated implementation.

This thesis is concerned with the measurement of physical quantities. Thesis describes sensors in general terms and requirements, which delivers latest trends in the field of automation. The main theme of this thesis is sensors for meassuring pressure, and their connection to the automation chain. In the next part thesis describes the design of the converter for connecting SMART sensors for pressure measuring, that use HART communication protocol, to the automation systems managed by a communication protocol IO-link. First will be described in detail various communication standards by their ISO OSI model, and on this theoretical basis will be based design of converter between communication protocol HART and communication protocol IO-Link. The last part will be Designed software for this converter.

IO-Link is a constantly growing market, bringing more interested parties who want to know if it is a market worth investing in. While deciding if the market is worth investing in is for the companies to decide, this thesis aims to shed some light on what it takes to get started with IO-Link development which could help that decision. This work presents the development of a proof-of-concept IO-Link master stack, which is then evaluated technically and financially. The proof-of-concept stack was then evaluated by testing it with a commercially available IO-Link Device (KT6101). This resulted in a functional proof-of-concept master stack with the physical, data link and application layer implemented, with ISDU support. The master stack supports cyclic Process Data exchange and acyclic On-request Data exchange, which is the minimum needed for IO-Link operations with a fully implemented IO-Link Device. The financial evaluation provides insights about the cost of developing the stack in Sweden, and the varying costs stemming from the place where the development occurs, since the host company has a global scope. Information from this work is a tool for stakeholders and decision makers in regard of the financial viability of the project, while the technical evaluation of the proof-of-concept is positive.

The task of this thesis is the design and construction of semi-automatic control and measuring station. The station is designed for testing the presence and measurement of the correct position of light guides and seals in the connector. Station contains a tool for testing the blinding of connectors. The design and construction of a semi-automatic control and measuring station is necessary using several types of sensors and sliding linear axes controlled by servo drives. The assignment of the thesis is solved in cooperation with the company Mechatronic Design & Solutions s.r.o. in Brno.