What is GDS? Is it based on any existing communication technology, industry standard, or protocol?
Hi Miquel,
GDS (Global Data Space) is a PLCnext Technology’s centralized data exchange mechanism. It acts as a shared and synchronized data space where tasks, programs, I/O systems, OPC UA services, and applications developed in different languages can exchange data consistently and deterministically.
Best Regards,
Festo AX Controls Team
In the future, will GDS be available for custom containers deployed by customers on the CEPE, or will it be limited to applications developed by FESTO?
One of our customers would like to develop a trajectory generator in C#, C++, or Python and send the generated trajectory either to CODESYS Motion Control or to the Python application that controls the CMMT.
Would GDS be a supported communication mechanism for this type of integration?
Hi Miquel,
GDS is already available for current Festo AX OS (firmware) version. It is a feature defined and developed by PLCNext. GDS supports real time application. There are application notes explaining how to transfer data via GDS between CODESYS and Python, but the same principle can be applied between e.g. CODESYS and C++ or even any other programs that run in the CEPE. Please refer to the diagram below.
You may find the refered application note about implementation of GDS with the CEPE here: Expert knowledge.
A more detailed explanation of the GDS can be found in the CEPE manual: CEPE Manual.