With the wave of Industry 4.0 sweeping the globe, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has become a key force in promoting the intelligent transformation of manufacturing. In this era of the Internet of Things, Modbus Converter, as an important bridge connecting traditional serial devices with modern networks, is increasingly widely used in industrial IoT platforms. This article will introduce the integration practice of Modbus Converter and industrial IoT platform in a simple and profound way, helping those who are new to the industry to better understand this field.

1. Basic concepts of Modbus Converter

In short, a Modbus Converter is a device that converts serial communication into network communication. It can connect traditional serial devices such as RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 to Ethernet, enabling remote communication and centralized management between devices. This conversion not only solves the problems of short communication distance, low speed, and signal interference in traditional serial port communication, but also provides higher data transmission rate and more stable communication environment.

There are various types of Modbus Converters, which can be divided into single serial port, dual serial port, four serial port, etc. according to the number of serial port devices connected; According to the type of serial port, it can be divided into RS485 type, RS232 type, RS422 type, etc; In addition, there are different forms of products such as pin type, patch type, and device level to adapt to various application scenarios.

2.Core functions of industrial IoT platform

The industrial IoT platform is a bridge connecting the physical world and the digital world, providing a series of functions such as device access, data collection, analysis and processing, and intelligent decision-making. Specifically:

Device access layer: Supports multiple communication protocols and data formats to ensure seamless access to the platform for devices from different vendors and models.
Data management layer: It has efficient data processing capabilities, can process massive data in real time, and provides functions such as data query and report generation.
Application service layer: Provides application services such as equipment monitoring, predictive maintenance, quality control, energy consumption management, and meets the specific needs of enterprises.
User interface layer: It has friendly interactive design and rich visualization functions to improve the user experience of enterprise users.

3. Integration practice of Modbus Converter and industrial IoT platform

In the practice of industrial IoT, the integration of Modbus Converter and platform is crucial. Here is a simple integration practice case:

● Equipment preparation:
Modbus Converter, such as NA111 type
Serial port IO networking module such as MA01-AXCX4020
Connecting wires such as network cables and RS-485 communication cables
Power supply equipment
● Platform creation and device access:
Create a new project on the Industrial Internet of Things platform and fill in the relevant information.
Add a new device in the device management, fill in the device name and device number, and select the ModBus TCP protocol.
Connect the Modbus Converter and the serial port IO networking module to the network through network cables and RS-485 communication cables.
● Configure Modbus Converter:
Open the host computer software of Modbus Converter to configure network parameters, such as TCP client mode, target IP/domain name, and port.
Configure the serial port parameters, such as baud rate, data bits, stop bits, and parity bits, to ensure consistency with the serial port IO networking module.
Configure advanced parameters and ModBus parameters as needed, such as heartbeat packet mode, registration packet mode, and so on.
● Function realization:
After completing the configuration, restart the device. At this time, the industrial IoT platform can collect the DI status and control DO output of the serial port IO networking module through the Modbus Converter.
For example, when the DI1 status of the serial port IO networking module changes, the platform will collect this change in real time; At the same time, the platform can also issue commands to control the output status of DO1 through the Modbus Converter.

4. The significance and application of integration practice

The integration of Modbus Converter with the Industrial Internet of Things platform has brought many benefits:

Extended communication distance: Modbus Converter enables serial devices to have TCP/IP network interface functions, thereby extending the communication distance of the device.
Realize remote monitoring and control: Users can remotely access and control devices through the network, enabling remote data collection, parameter setting, fault diagnosis, and other functions.
Enhance production efficiency: By leveraging real-time monitoring and data analysis, enterprises can optimize production processes and improve efficiency.
Reduced maintenance costs: Predictive maintenance reduces equipment downtime and maintenance costs.
In industrial control systems, this integration practice is widely used in fields such as access control/attendance, industrial automation, parking lot management, remote monitoring, charging piles, and high-speed toll stations. For example, in the PLC control system, the Modbus Converter can realize remote control of the PLC; In an unattended weighing system, the Modbus Converter can connect weighing instruments and other devices to a local area network to achieve centralized control and data statistical management.

With the continuous development of industrial IoT technology, Modbus Converter will play a more important role in the future. We look forward to seeing more innovative Modbus Converter application cases and technical solutions, which will bring more changes and progress to the field of industrial IoT. At the same time, with the increasing attention of industrial IoT platforms to data security, the security of Modbus Converter during data transmission will also be further improved.

The integration of Modbus Converter with industrial IoT platforms is an important part of promoting the intelligent transformation of manufacturing. By deeply understanding the basic concepts of Modbus Converter and the core functions of industrial IoT platforms, as well as specific integration practice cases and significance applications, we can better grasp the development trends and opportunities in this field. I hope this article can provide useful reference and help for those who are new to the industry.