Implementation of an IO-Link Master : A Research project to find out what it takes to get started with IO-Link

Abstract: IO-Link is a constantly growing market, bringing more interested parties who want to know if it is a market worth investing in. While deciding if the market is worth investing in is for the companies to decide, this thesis aims to shed some light on what it takes to get started with IO-Link development which could help that decision. This work presents the development of a proof-of-concept IO-Link master stack, which is then evaluated technically and financially. The proof-of-concept stack was then evaluated by testing it with a commercially available IO-Link Device (KT6101). This resulted in a functional proof-of-concept master stack with the physical, data link and application layer implemented, with ISDU support. The master stack supports cyclic Process Data exchange and acyclic On-request Data exchange, which is the minimum needed for IO-Link operations with a fully implemented IO-Link Device. The financial evaluation provides insights about the cost of developing the stack in Sweden, and the varying costs stemming from the place where the development occurs, since the host company has a global scope. Information from this work is a tool for stakeholders and decision makers in regard of the financial viability of the project, while the technical evaluation of the proof-of-concept is positive.