Safety over EtherCAT with FSoE (FailSafe over EtherCAT)

ISIT FSoE Protocol Stack with acontis EtherCAT MainDevice – Focus on Safety over EtherCAT

This integrated solution combines the ISIT FSoE protocol stack with the robust Acontis EC-Master to deliver a pre-certified, ready-to-use system for Safety over EtherCAT (FSoE), fully compliant with the IEC 61784-3-12 standard.

acontis Technologies' EC-Master serves as a high-performance, real-time EtherCAT MainDevice and offers trusted BlackChannel communication for the safe process data.

It offers:

  • High-performance communication for deterministic EtherCAT networks – enabling EtherCAT controllers with fastest cycle times, lowest jitter on a broad range of platforms
  • Broad compatibility with operating systems such as Linux (also RT/Xenomai), QNX, VxWorks, INtime, Windows
  • Real-time diagnostics and monitoring functions
  • Easy-to-use, nevertheless powerful API for application-level integration
  • Support for direct SubDevice to SubDevice communication
  • Confirmed black-channel support for Fail Safe over EtherCAT (FSoE)

These features make EC-Master the ideal base for building FSoE-capable EtherCAT MainDevice solutions.

ISIT FSoE Stack – Safety Layer on top of EC-Master

The ISIT FSoE stack implements the Safety over EtherCAT protocol as defined by IEC 61784-3-12. It leverages the black channel principle, ensuring safety functionality is independent of the underlying communication (EtherCAT/Ethernet 100 Mbit/s). Key features include:

  • Pre-integration with acontis EC-Master for quick setup.
  • Support for both MainInstance (FSoE Master) and SubInstance (FSoE Slave) roles.
  • MainInstance can be implemented on an EtherCAT MainDevice using the acontis EC-Master
  • Comprehensive error detection mechanisms such as timeouts, CRC checks, and sequence counters.
  • A clean and generic API for easy integration into safety-critical applications.
  • Pre-certified up to SIL 3 (IEC 61508), with potential for further standards like IEC 62304 and DO-178.

Safety Software Architecture

Advantages of the EC-Master + ISIT FSoE integration

The combination of EC-Master and the ISIT FSoE stack offers significant benefits:

  • Fast Time-to-Market: Accelerate the development and certification of FSoE-capable devices thanks to the pre-integrated stack and EC-Master's mature infrastructure.
  • Deterministic Safety Communication: Real-time communication handled by EC-Master ensures that safety messages are delivered within strict time constraints, as required by FSoE.
  • Robust Fault Detection: The FSoE stack provides advanced fault detection and response mechanisms directly at the protocol level, complementing EC-Master's diagnostics.
  • Highly Scalable: The combined solution is suitable for systems ranging from embedded controllers to complex multi-axis machines with distributed safety devices.

Typical use cases for EC-Master + FSoE

This powerful integration is perfect for:

  • Safe motion systems utilizing EtherCAT drives with integrated STO/SS1 functions.
  • Redundant safety PLCs with distributed I/O and safety communication.
  • Collaborative robotics where human-machine interaction demands certified safety layers.
  • Flexible automation cells featuring modular safety devices over EtherCAT.

Summary

By combining the acontis EtherCAT Master MainDevice and the ISIT FSoE stack, OEMs and automation developers gain a field-proven, certifiable, and easy-to-integrate solution for Safety over EtherCAT communication. It simplifies the path to SIL 3-compliant systems while delivering high performance, reliability, and platform flexibility.

Learn more : Download the complete brochure to find out more about the features, content and additional services of the ISIT FSoE Stack.

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