Massachusetts semiconductor company Analog Devices has announced long-reach industrial Ethernet for last-kilometre connectivity in building and factory automation applications.

The ADI Chronous industrial Ethernet portfolio brings long-reach Ethernet connectivity from the edge to the cloud and can enabls real-time configurability, lower energy consumption and increased asset use. The additions support the 10baseT1L physical layer Ethernet standard allowing new data streams from edge nodes in remote and hazardous locations across process and building facilities.

This previously unavailable data can now be seamlessly accessed across the network and used to assess factors such as asset health, raw material use and process parameters enabling cleaner manufacturing.

“Many process plants and buildings are struggling with constant manual local intervention required by service personnel and limited ability to optimise assets at an enterprise level,” said Mark Barry, general manager at Analog Devices. “By providing long-reach industrial Ethernet that adheres to the 10baseT1L Ethernet standard, we’re making it possible for our customers to achieve reliable communications over much longer distances, covering the last mile in connectivity. This truly enables the benefits of digitalisation through seamless access to edge data and improved control of remote assets.”

The offerings help users reduce energy consumption in buildings as well as their overall carbon footprint through improved control of building parameters. The ADIN1100 and ADIN1110 can transfer data over 1.7km through a single twisted pair of Ethernet cables, which helps reduce space, weight and cost. These cables are lighter and more malleable than traditional Ethernet cables, and can support reuse of existing cabling infrastructure, reducing commissioning cost and complexity.

They come in two options. The ADIN1110 mac phy is claimed to enable the industry’s lowest power systems, which simplifies retrofitting for Ethernet in field sensors or actuators and preserves existing investment in software and processor technology. The ADIN1100 phy version provides standard Ethernet interfaces and supports use in more complex designs such as field switch developments or building controllers.