OpenSafety

openSAFETY is a communications protocol used to transmit information that is crucial for the safe operation of machinery in manufacturing lines, process plants, or similar industrial environments.

While traditional safety solutions rely on dedicated communication lines connecting machinery and control systems via special relays, openSAFETY does not need any extra cables reserved for safety-related information.

[6] In contrast to all other bus-based safety solutions on the market, which were created to complement a specific Industrial Ethernet protocol or family of bus systems, openSAFETY was designed for general interoperability.

[11] The public presentation and open-source release of the protocol was hotly debated, with strong reactions both in favor and against the new solution, which prompted extensive reporting in the trade press.

[12] Following the major openSAFETY presentation in Hanover, proponents of the new solution gave lectures at other industry events as well, e.g. at TÜV Rheinland’s 9th International Symposium in Cologne, Germany, on 4–5 May 2010.