Hi everyone,

 EtherCAT (Ethernet for Control Automation Technology) is an open standard, but there are certain licensing and cost considerations associated with its use, especially when it comes to developing EtherCAT-compliant products. Here's an overview of the licensing and cost structure:

    EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG):
        The ETG is the organization that oversees the development and promotion of EtherCAT. To access official EtherCAT development tools, documentation, and conformance testing, companies typically need to become members of the ETG.
        There are different membership levels within the ETG, each with its own set of benefits and associated costs.

    Master Licensing:
        There are several suppliers that offer EtherCAT Master software stacks. Depending on the supplier, the licensing model can vary. Some might offer a one-time license fee, while others might have a royalty-based model.
        Open-source solutions, like SOEM (Simple Open EtherCAT Master), are available and can be used without licensing costs, though they might require more effort to integrate and may lack certain features or support compared to commercial solutions.

    Slave Controller Hardware:
        When developing EtherCAT Slave devices, you'll often require specialized EtherCAT Slave Controller (ESC) hardware. The cost of these chips varies based on the manufacturer and the volume of purchase.
        Some manufacturers of ESC chips may require a one-time licensing fee for access to their EtherCAT Intellectual Property (IP), especially if you're using FPGA-based solutions.

    Conformance Testing:
        If you're developing an EtherCAT product and want it to be officially certified as compliant with the EtherCAT standard, it will need to undergo conformance testing. This testing is typically carried out at one of the official ETG test labs, and there's a fee associated with this testing.
        Having a product that's been officially tested and certified can be a selling point, ensuring customers that the product meets the standard's requirements.

    Training and Support:
        Some companies might opt for official EtherCAT training or development support. These services come at an additional cost.

    Ongoing Membership Fees:
        Membership in the ETG might involve an annual fee, depending on the membership level and the benefits it provides.

    Tooling and Development Kits:
        While some tools might be available for free to ETG members, specialized development kits, debugging tools, or advanced software might come with additional costs.

In summary, while EtherCAT itself is an open standard, the costs associated with developing EtherCAT-compliant products can vary based on several factors, including licensing, hardware components, testing, and support. It's essential for companies to consider these costs when planning EtherCAT-based projects or products.

"Platforms established on an EthernetCAT foundation have become increasingly popular in many sectors of industry. This technology, which is both practical and offers time/place savings, has evolved and branched out over time and has been embedded in third-party platforms as well. Below, we have tried to answer some of the main questions we received from our valued visitors about EtherCAT."

- What is EtherCAT?
- What are the primary advantages of EtherCAT?
- How does EtherCAT work?
- Why is EtherCAT used in the field of industrial automation?
- What are the differences between EtherCAT and traditional Ethernet?
- How does EtherCAT handle real-time performance?
- What is the topology of EtherCAT?
- Which devices and sensors can be integrated with EtherCAT?
- How do EtherCAT Master and Slave devices communicate with each other?
- How is security ensured in EtherCAT?
- What are the differences between EtherCAT and other industrial Ethernet protocols (e.g., PROFINET, Ethernet/IP)?
- What are the technical specifications of EtherCAT?
- Which programming languages and tools can be used with EtherCAT?
- What is the latency time of EtherCAT?
- What are the future trends and evolution of EtherCAT?
- What is the licensing and cost structure of EtherCAT?
- What versions of EtherCAT are available?
- How can you detect and resolve an error in an EtherCAT network?
- How does EtherCAT comply with industry standards?
- What are the limits and constraints of EtherCAT?

+ What is Ethernet?

+ What is Ethernet/IP? 

+ What is EtherCAT?

+ Back to Automation main page

"Please note, these questions may only satisfy general curiosities about the EtherCAT protocol. Everyone or every student may have different questions specific to their context or application. Our answers are not definitive judgments, but merely serve as a guide. You are free to share our article by citing it as a source. If you have any questions, please fill out the form below." 08.2019