EtherCAT technology is commonly used in industrial automation applications. File over EtherCAT (FoE) is a simple protocol that enables file access in a device and a uniform firmware upload to devices across an EtherCAT network. The protocol has been optimized so that it can be supported by bootloader programs without requiring a TCP/IP stack. This feature allows a device out in the field to receive firmware updates, eliminating the need to send a technician out into the field with a special service cable to upgrade the device with new firmware revisions.
The interactive block diagram below illustrates how our products can be integrated to create a File over EtherCAT application. Click on each product to learn more about it.
This EtherCAT example application demonstrates the firmware updates via FoE. The EtherCAT host (TwinCAT Manager) communicates with the SAM D51 microcontroller (MCU) on the EVB-LAN925x/SAM D51 Evaluation Board, which acts as the EtherCAT device in the system.
Our EtherCAT repository provides the information about how to configure and run the application on different EtherCAT platforms.
