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Beckhoff Automation Oy
Stage Theater an der Elbe, Germany
People's Grand Theatre, Jilin City, China
Flying by Foy, Las Vegas, NV, USA
Beckhoff offers a scalable and modular component portfolio for the realization of all lighting concepts in stage and show technology, in unique applications and in the entertainment industry: from stage lighting to special lighting effects to hall and building lighting. The entire range of performances - from digital light control for simple switching operations to analog dimmer functions and protocols for lighting equipment control - is supported by the Beckhoff I/O terminals and seamlessly integrated into the control platform. In addition to DALI, DMX, sACN and Art-Net™, the communication protocols SMPTE-Timecode and PosiStageNet are also available: SMPTE-Timecode enables the exact synchronization and precisely repeatable sequential control of different technical systems in complex stage shows. For example, PosiStageNet can send position data from moving objects to the lighting control system in order to automatically "track" an object or to select lighting scenarios depending on the position.
With a wide range of PC platforms in all performance categories and designs, as well as the multi-touch panels and modular TwinCAT automation software, all components are available for the realization of various control desk concepts. Various data connection options as well as cloud connectivity round out the controller.
The PC-based control technology from Beckhoff has proven itself worldwide since 1980 in the widest variety of industries and applications, from machine control and the automation of wind turbines to the entertainment industry. What was regarded 40 years ago as an outsider position has developed very quickly into a standard in the automation industry. Innovative product developments that underscored Beckhoff's PC-based control philosophy followed continuously and are regarded today as milestones in automation technology, such as the modular Bus Terminal system, the high-speed fieldbus EtherCAT or the Embedded PC. The basis for the universal usability of the Beckhoff control solution is its modularity, its scalability in terms of power and its openness toward other systems and tools.
PC-based control from Beckhoff represents a modularly constructed control solution that is fully scalable in all components and maps all automation functions in software: Safety technology, measurement technology, Condition Monitoring and robotics are also integrated into the control platform along with sequential control, motion control and visualization. The basic principle of PC-based control is very simple: it is based on a powerful Industrial PC, a high-performance fieldbus connection with the connected peripheral devices for sensors and actuators as well as TwinCAT, the real-time capable automation software for motion control and logic. The consistent use of mainstream technologies from the world of IT and their convergence to principles of automation technology have led to a continuous increase in performance and function as well as a considerable reduction in costs. The Beckhoff control platform is supplemented by an extensive portfolio of drive components.
With PC-based control, an extensive component construction kit is available to the system integrator for the automation of the various technical systems in the entertainment industry, such as moving objects, lighting technology, AV and media technology and building automation. Worldwide references from mobile and stationary stage and show technology, from unique applications and entertainment technology prove that PC-based control technology is ideally suited to the implementation of technically sophisticated stage and media shows.
Your advantage with PC-based control:
EtherCAT was launched by Beckhoff in 2003 and made available as an open automation technology standard. With cycle times well below 1 ms, outstanding synchronization accuracy, flexible topology selection, extensive diagnostics and simple configuration, EtherCAT is also ideal for use in the entertainment industry. More than 6,000 companies worldwide have joined forces in the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG), the world's largest industrial fieldbus user organization. More than twenty of the most renowned companies in the field of entertainment are also members of the ETG.
Beckhoff supplies the largest number of EtherCAT-compatible automation modules for both I/Os and drive technology. Due to worldwide support for EtherCAT, a large number of EtherCAT-compatible sensors and actuators are also available on the market, ensuring a high level of investment security. The performance of EtherCAT also supports creative people and engineers in the field of entertainment technology in the realization of unique applications. For example, a customer application such as "Kinetic Rain", which features 1,216 precisely synchronized axes, can only be realized on the basis of EtherCAT. With EtherCAT, almost any event in a show, theater or amusement park can be synchronized, which is usually not possible with “black box” hardware in the way they are normally used. The development of the DMX terminal, which requires 512 bytes of process data, is also based on EtherCAT; as of today, this is not possible with any other fieldbus system.
The general advantages of EtherCAT are:
The eXtreme Fast Control (XFC) technology enables leading-edge, high-speed automation based on an optimized control and communication architecture. It consists of a modern Industrial PC, ultra-fast I/O terminals with advanced real-time features, the EtherCAT high-speed Ethernet system and the TwinCAT automation software. With XFC it is possible to realize I/O response times < 100 µs. Due to its speed, XFC technology is used by almost all Beckhoff customers in the entertainment industry.
The development of this fast control technology was also a prerequisite for the support of the SMPTE-Timecode standard by the Beckhoff controller. The SMPTE-Timecode is a standard defined by the SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) for absolute time data that are transmitted with media metadata. The SMPTE-Timecode is mainly used to synchronize the various tracks (sound/noise, language, special effects, texts, etc.) in a media production.
EtherCAT I/O Terminals automate any functionality in the entertainment industry
In 1995, Beckhoff launched the Bus Terminal, which has since become one of the most important technology standards in automation technology. That was followed in 2003 by the development of the fast EtherCAT communication system. Launched by Beckhoff as an open system, it became a global standard in automation within a few years. With around 100 signal types, an extensive EtherCAT I/O Terminal portfolio is available to users that is extremely well suited for automating every functionality in stage and show technology in terms of both its performance and variance. The Bus Terminals allow a variety of simple building bus systems to be integrated into the controller.
In contrast to the Bus Terminals, in which the fieldbus signal is converted in the Bus Coupler to the internal, fieldbus-neutral terminal bus, the EtherCAT protocol is completely preserved up to the individual terminal with EtherCAT Terminals. The EtherCAT I/Os enable DMX to be integrated into the controller. EtherCAT Terminals are used in almost every entertainment application.
For the first time, the MX-System enables completely control cabinet-free automation solutions in machine and system engineering. The combination of baseplate and function modules resulting from the modular system combines all the tasks and features of a control cabinet: power supply, fuse protection and distribution, generation and monitoring of auxiliary voltages, sequence control with inputs and outputs, control of motors and actuators, and the connection level for the field devices. The full system integration of all machine functionalities is achieved via freely selectable IPC, coupler, I/O, drive, relay, and system modules, which can be configured and combined according to the specific application.
The consistently systemic approach of comprehensively coordinated assemblies, certified to international standards, enormously reduces the effort required for planning, assembly, machine installation, and maintenance. Since considerably fewer components are required than in traditional control cabinet design to implement the same requirements, the entire MX-System is significantly more compact than previous solutions. The system footprint is reduced, and system availability and flexibility are also increased. In each life cycle phase of a control system, the MX-System offers significant advantages over the classic control cabinet.
The advantages of the MX-System for the entertainment industry at a glance:
The I/O signals are wired decentralized to fieldbus devices or centrally to the controller. The available vendor-specific fieldbus devices with fixed input/output configurations and design often make it necessary to use an entire group of devices with similar functions. This complex signal acquisition results in high material, installation, design and documentation expenditures as well as high costs for later changes or extensions. Inventory management and service staff are put under unnecessary strain. The Beckhoff Bus Terminal is an open and fieldbus-neutral I/O system consisting of electronic terminal blocks. The head of an electronic terminal block is the Bus Coupler with the interface to the fieldbus. Bus Couplers for all leading field bus systems are available.
With the master terminals, fieldbus functionalities are also available in the form of a standard Bus Terminal. This is particularly advantageous for bus systems that are integrated as subsystems into a higher-level system. It means that only one system is required for the subsystem and for the higher-level bus interface. Master terminals are available for the following bus systems: BACnet MS/TP, KNX/EIB, LON, DALI/DALI-2, DMX, MP-Bus, M-Bus, SMI, EnOcean, Modbus etc.
DMX is the standard protocol for controlling professional stage and event equipment. Its areas of use include the dynamic illumination of showrooms and retail spaces, as well as for exclusive plays of light and color in buildings such as hotels and event centers.
In general, there are two different application scenarios:
These two different types of application can be combined as required. Even beyond this, there are virtually no limits to the integration of further signals into the completely freely programmable Beckhoff system, and even devices that are not DMX-compatible, such as DALI lamps or bus terminals, can be addressed via the DMX console. What’s more, it is also possible to perform merge, simulation functions, and arbitrary data processing of the DMX frame.
In addition to the EL6851-0010 DMX slave terminal, we also offer the integration of light consoles via sACN, Art-Net™, PosiStageNet, and OSC.
TwinCAT TCP/IP TF6310 is used to implement and realize one or more TCP/IP servers and/or TCP/IP clients in the TwinCAT 3 PLC. Corresponding function blocks exist for the establishment/disconnection of communication as well as for the pure exchange of data (send and receive). The function blocks also support the use of multicast addresses here.
DMX is a standard that is widely used for controlling lighting elements in stage equipment and building services applications. Beckhoff offers the EL6851 DMX master terminal and the EL6851-0010 DMX slave terminal for this purpose.
To take advantage of Ethernet for DMX, the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) has developed the Streaming Architecture for Control Networks (sACN). This transmits the data of the DMX universe via UDP/IP. The DMX data is embedded as a complete universe in the sACN frame and thus tunneled through UDP/IP. sACN is defined by the ANSI standard E1.31-2009 (sACN-2009 for short) and represents a subset of the ACN standard (ANSI standard E1.17).
In 2016, the ESTA introduced the new edition of the sACN standard E1.31-2016 (sACN-2016 for short), which added two new frame types, the "Synchronization Frame" and the "Universe Discovery Frame". The Synchronization Frame is a packet that contains only synchronization information from the universe and is used to trigger the synchronization. The Universe Discovery Frame is a packet that contains a packed list of the universe in which a source is active. This frame allows other devices interested in network traffic to monitor which universes are currently active without joining any multicast group.
Art-Net™ is a protocol specification, developed by Artistic License Holdings Ltd, to utilize the benefits of Ethernet for transferring DMX universes. DMX is a standard that is widely used for controlling lighting elements in stage equipment and building services applications. Among other things, Beckhoff offers the EL6851 DMX master terminal and the EL6851-0010 DMX Slave Terminal.
Art-Net™ transfers DMX universes via UDP/IP, whereby DMX data are embedded in an Art-Net™ frame as a complete universe and thus tunneled through UDP/IP using another layer. From Art-Net™ II, telegrams can also be sent in 'unicast' mode, as well as 'directed broadcast.'
PosiStageNet (PSN) is a protocol specification for the transmission of position data and was developed in collaboration between VYV and MA Lighting. PSN is mainly used in stage and entertainment technology. The data are transmitted by UDP/IP.
In general, PSN is used to transmit the position data of objects, these objects being called "trackers". The method of determining the position data is not specified and is left up to the user. For example, position data from a position measuring system (encoder) can be used; these are then sent to a lighting controller for the automatic "tracking" of this object.
The SMPTE-Timecode is a standard defined by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) for absolute time data that are transmitted with media metadata. The SMPTE-Timecode is mainly used to synchronize the various tracks (sound/noise, language, special effects, texts, etc.) in a media production. A frame consists of 80 bits and is broadcast from the master to the slaves. With the help of the EL3702 EtherCAT oversampling terminal, the analog signal sent from the master to the slaves can be "intercepted" and used via TwinCAT for the synchronization of different subsections and systems.
With the TF8050 TwinCAT 3 Lighting Solution, Beckhoff has introduced an Excel-configurable lighting solution that focuses on simplifying all work steps from engineering to maintenance. All typical lighting controllers are integrated and the number of DALI lines is unlimited. Beckhoff bus couplers installed decentrally in the network can be used with extensive lighting systems, which significantly reduces the cabling work. TF8050 also supports features such as remote control via web, the import and export of Excel data or simple maintenance. The Beckhoff lighting solution also includes functions for Human Centric Lighting (HCL) as well as the integration of DALI-2 sensors. All these functions are simple to configure, even without programming knowledge. The Lighting Solution is fully web and HTML-capable, decentrally scalable and can be operated directly via a multi-touch panel. Fast function changes, addressing and extensions or groupings across DALI lines are directly possible during operation. Daylight-dependent human centric lighting concepts can also be implemented.
The advantages at a glance:
The Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) is a simple bus system for building automation that transmits the signals for the digital operation of lighting devices. The lamp, sensor, button and switching elements are wired in parallel, and are linked through the controller. Other actuators, such as heating control valves or the motors for operating blinds are increasingly being put under digital control.
DALI offers the following advantages:
The KL6811 DALI/DSI master and power supply terminal from Beckhoff closes the gap between the lighting controller and the luminaire and allows the connection of up to 64 DALI operating devices (DALI slaves). The KL6811 is integrated into the BECKHOFF Bus Terminal system as a normal Bus Terminal and is therefore fieldbus-independent. The higher-level Bus Coupler transfers the data from the DALI master terminal to the controller. The DALI power supply unit integrated in the KL6811 supplies the DALI bus. No further components are required for the operation of the DALI line. The KL6821 DALI/DALI-2 multi-master and power supply terminal allows the connection of up to 64 DALI/DALI-2 slaves and 64 DALI input devices.
Launched with the C6015, the series of ultra-compact Industrial PCs has positioned itself extremely successfully on the market due to its flexible application possibilities. As a sturdy control cabinet Industrial PC with an Intel® Atom™ CPU with up to four cores and a clock speed of 1.91 GHz, the C6015 is suitable for automation, visualization and communication tasks. The small dimensions of 82 x 82 x 40 mm and the flexible mounting options make the fanless multi-core PC the ideal controller for applications with high performance requirements and minimal mounting space in almost all areas of the entertainment industry. The interfaces for transferring electrical signals, IP, image and audio signals, which are available by default, make the C6015 suitable for cost-effective control of media walls, for example.
The Beckhoff Panel generation with industry-standard multi-touch display offers the right solution for any application. For single-touch users, the new panel generation also offers excellent value for money and a smart alternative to other systems.
Highlights:
The compact DIN-rail-mounted PCs from the CX series with directly connectable I/O level offer a space-saving industrial controller in the control cabinet. Beckhoff's extensive range of embedded controllers includes a device tailored to the budget, performance class and complexity of the control task for each application. In addition to the CPU, the individual devices from the CX series differ by the available system interfaces and power supply variants and can be plugged together and extended as a modular control system depending on the task in the entertainment sector.
The CX family includes several basic CPU modules with different processors for adaption of the performance to suit the respective control task. As a result, different applications can be implemented on the same hardware, such as a PLC and Motion Control system with a DVI/USB interface or a multimedia system with an audio interface.
The most powerful devices from the CX series are the CX20x2s, which are equipped with Intel® Xeon® processors and a separate graphic unit. They can be used to realize even sophisticated visualizations.
The dimmer bus terminals with a rated power of up to 300 VA (W) (KL2751) and 600 VA (W) (KL2761) are designed for the direct connection of various lighting devices, such as incandescent lamps as well as inductive and electronic control gears. The lighting devices are detected and controlled in the correct operation mode. Integrated diagnostics indicate the operating states by means of LEDs and make the status data available via the bus system. The electronic dimmer is extremely compact and is equipped with automatic load detection.
The EL2622-0010 output terminal has two relays, which both have a single contact. The relay terminal switches at the zero voltage crossing to protect the contacts and is particularly suitable for capacitive loads such as LED lamps. A practical test was able to show that an EL2622-0010 remained fully functional at a capacitive continuous current load of 4 A after 200,000 switching cycles (for details see documentation).
The EIB Bus Terminal KL6301 connects the KNX/EIB bus system to the Beckhoff Bus Terminal system. The KL6301 offers the possibility to exchange any data with KNX/EIB devices. The ETS software is not required for configuring the KL6301. It is configured and parameterized via TwinCAT function blocks (IEC 61131-3).
The EL6601 Ethernet switchport terminal allows the connection of Ethernet devices that communicate, for example, via DMX, DALI, KNX/EIB, LON, Art-Net™, sACN or PosiStageNet. The EtherCAT system relays the Ethernet communication of the connected devices fully transparent and collision-free. The switchport terminal can be used at any position within the EtherCAT segment. No configuration is required.
TwinCAT automation software integrates real-time control with PLC, NC and CNC functions in a single package. All Beckhoff controllers are programmed using TwinCAT in accordance with the IEC 61131-3 programming standard. In addition to IEC 61131-3, TwinCAT 3 also offers C/C++, MATLAB® and Simulink® as programming languages.
TwinCAT 3 Highlights:
TwinCAT HMI makes consistent use of widely used IT standards such as HTML5, JavaScript and CSS. Through the integration of a fully graphical editor with an extensive toolbox in the familiar TwinCAT 3 engineering environment, it is possible to create extensive visualizations with little effort. Customer-specific functions that are not part of the visualization toolkit can be implemented using the IT standards mentioned above or via higher-level programming languages. The visualizations created are platform-independent and responsive on the client side. The powerful underlying architecture makes numerous application scenarios possible: from local panel solutions to multi-client, multi-server and multi-runtime configurations.
Instead of using proprietary systems, Beckhoff relies on IT standards:
PC-based control offers automation solutions for all stationary performances.
PC-based control automates unique installations involving light, water and kinetics.
PC-based control supports entertainment technology – from amusement parks to TV studios.
