What is AS-i? AS-Interface is the simplest industrial networking protocol. Originally designed to connect actuators and sensors onto a single two-wire cable for simple control and monitoring, it has now been extended to be able to handle analogue devices such as temperature and pressure sensors.

AS-i networks can be used in any industry for production line automation, test rig control and monitoring, electrical distribution systems and many others. Furthermore, using the AS-i Safe (Safety at Work) profile, machine safety can be implemented on the same two-wire cable as the AS-i control and monitoring. Designed correctly, safety performance up to SIL3 can be achieved.

Main benefits from using AS-i include:

• major reduction in cabling
• power and data over the same cable (although a dedicated power cable can be used as well for applications requiring the extra power)
• highly reliable communications (high levels of noise immunity) on low-cost 2-core cable
• faulty devices can be replaced simply
• cable is IP67 and many devices are also available to IP67
• safety system can be fully integrated.