New awards for users of Ethernet Powerlink

B&R is calling for innovative concepts, creative solutions, practice-oriented application suggestions and promising scientific research projects from all technical disciplines. The only requirement for each proposal is the usage of Powerlink technology. For an optional practical implementation, the freely available open source software openPOWERLINK can be used as a basis.

A high-profile jury of researchers and economic experts will assess all submitted projects and announce the award winners in mid-2009. The winners will be awarded three main prizes worth EUR10,000, EUR5000 and EUR2500.

openPOWERLINK is claimed to be the only open-source real-time protocol software based on standard-compliant Ethernet. openPOWERLINK's source code has been made freely available. In addition, the open source license model (BSD license) allows for unlimited adaptation and use of the software in user applications. Applications with high requirements on timing precision and dynamic reactions can be easily and cost-efficiently realised.

Further information is available from www.br-automation.com/award and www.sourceforge.net.