Microchip adds EtherCAT and TSN support to PolarFire devices

The expanded solution stack targets industrial robotics, motion control and factory automation with deterministic networking and low-power operation.

As industrial systems evolve to support AI-enabled automation, robotics and intelligent edge computing, developers need to deliver deterministic, real-time networking while minimizing power consumption, maintaining security and reducing system complexity. To address these challenges, Microchip Technology has expanded its industrial edge networking solution stack with EtherCAT and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) capabilities on PolarFire devices. Beckhoff Automation GmbH EtherCAT IP is compatible with both PolarFire FPGA and SoC devices and Microchip TSN IP is supported on PolarFire FPGA SoCs. These enhancements expand Microchip’s growing portfolio of FPGA solution stacks which combine hardware, IP, development tools and reference designs to accelerate development across industrial networking, AI, machine learning and security-focused applications.

Beckhoff EtherCAT IP supports EtherCAT connectivity at 10/100/1000 Mbps and Microchip’s TSN solution enables deterministic 1 Gbps Ethernet using IEEE 802.1 Time-Sensitive Networking standards. Together, these technologies help developers build scalable industrial networks with predictable communication performance and interoperability across connected devices.

Built on power-efficient PolarFire FPGAs and SoCs, the industrial edge networking solution stack delivers real-time processing with high reliability and energy efficiency. PolarFire devices feature a secure, non-volatile architecture that enables instant-on operation and supports integrated security features such as secure boot and anti-tamper protection. The flexible FPGA fabric enables EtherCAT and TSN integration while supporting scalable customization for evolving industrial network architectures.

Target applications include motion control, industrial robotics, embedded vision, factory automation, autonomous mobile robots, automotive systems, smart infrastructure and aerospace and defense platforms. PolarFire FPGA and SoC industrial networking solutions are supported by Microchip’s Libero SoC design suite, IP cores and reference designs, as well as the Dual-Port Gigabit Ethernet FMC card (ETH-DC-DUALGBE) and PolarFire SoC Video Kit (MPFS250-VIDEO-KIT) for rapid evaluation and prototyping. Visit the website to learn more about Microchip’s full portfolio of FPGA devices.

For more information, visit microchip.com.