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Harting’s Fast Track Switching, an new Ethernet-based switching technology, is now being targeted at the communication and control processes of theatre, concert and indoor/outdoor event automation systems.
Ethernet has become the adopted networking standard for automation and within the theatre environment it is suitable for applications that include networked controls for hoists and other stage machinery.
Unlike alternative proprietary Ethernet protocol approaches which use modified versions of the Ethernet standard compatible with the requirements of different industries, Fast Track Switching is based on standard Ethernet, but adds a new switching method to ensure that industry-specific requirements on performance and determinism are fully met.
The key components in Fast Track Switching are Fast Ethernet switches in Harting’s Ha-VIS FTS 3000 product family, which can detect and identify customised automation profiles, accelerate their data-transmission speeds and prioritise them. The detection, acceleration and prioritisation mechanisms guarantee the necessary determinism and performance that the end-user technology demands.
Many existing theatre and concert applications use one Ethernet system operating as a general-purpose IT network passing control and status information between managers' consoles and 'field' based controllers. Typically, a second automation network connects the control centres to the actual units being controlled. With Fast Track Switching technology, these two separate networks could be combined into a single network with prioritisation of the automation-related messages: a concept known as 'Automation IT'. The result is improved network configuration and reduced system installed costs.
In addition to the Fast Track Switching technology, Harting also offers a wide range of configurable, managed and unmanaged industrial Ethernet switches that are designed to offer wider operating temperatures compared to standard office-based switches, making them suitable for use under the extreme conditions often encountered in theatre and concert environments.
