Common Industrial Protocol

Common Industrial Protocol
Name	Common Industrial Protocol
Othernames	CIP
Developedby	Rockwell Automation, ODVA
Initial release	1990s
Latest release	2010s
Os	Industrial controllers, Programmable logic controller, embedded systems
Status	Active

Common Industrial Protocol

Common Industrial Protocol is an industrial automation protocol suite designed for real-time control and information exchange among Programmable logic controller, industrial robot, Distributed control system, Supervisory control and data acquisition, and Human-machine interface devices. It provides a common object-oriented application layer specified and promoted by ODVA and implemented by vendors such as Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Mitsubishi Electric to enable interoperability across Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet, and CompoNet networks. CIP supports device profiles, connection management, and services for I/O, configuration, and diagnostics used in manufacturing, process industry, automotive industry, pharmaceutical industry, and food processing.

Overview

CIP defines an object model and services that map to media and transport layers including Ethernet/IP, ControlNet, and DeviceNet, enabling standardized interaction between Programmable logic controller, Programmable automation controller, industrial PC, robotic arm, and intelligent sensor devices. The protocol specifies explicit messaging, implicit messaging, and connection-oriented behavior used in factory automation, discrete manufacturing, batch processing, and continuous process environments. Vendors implement CIP to support device profiles such as CIP Motion, CIP Safety, CIP Sync, and CIP Energy, each aligning to domain-specific requirements in automotive manufacturing, packaging, and semiconductor fabrication.

History and Development

CIP originated in the 1990s as part of a collaboration among vendors to unify communications for DeviceNet and ControlNet users, with formal stewardship moving to industry consortia like ODVA and integration with IEEE 802.3-based Ethernet/IP in the 2000s. Key milestones include the adoption of CIP services for motion control in the 2000s alongside the emergence of PROFINET and EtherCAT as competing industrial Ethernet technologies, and the later addition of safety and energy profiles influenced by standards work at IEC and ISO. The protocol’s evolution has been shaped by interoperability events, vendor implementations at trade shows such as Hannover Messe and Automate, and collaborative testing in laboratories associated with Industrial Internet Consortium initiatives.

Technical Architecture and Protocol Stack

CIP uses an object-oriented application layer with classes, instances, and attributes mapped to transport and network layers such as Ethernet/IP (CIP over TCP/IP and UDP), DeviceNet (CIP over CAN bus), and ControlNet (CIP over deterministic token-based media). The stack includes services for explicit messaging via TCP and implicit I/O via UDP multicast or point-to-point connections, incorporating time synchronization through IEEE 1588 and cyclic I/O scheduling compatible with real-time operating system platforms like VxWorks and RTOS variants. Profiles such as CIP Motion define trajectory, velocity, and torque parameters for servo drive and motion controller integration, while CIP Safety applies functional safety concepts aligned with IEC 61508 and ISO 13849.

Applications and Industry Use Cases

CIP is deployed in assembly lines for automotive industry manufacturers, in process control systems for chemical plant operators, in packaging machinery at consumer goods producers, and in semiconductor tool integration at TSMC and Intel fabs. Use cases include high-speed I/O exchange in pick-and-place systems, coordinated motion in robotic cells, remote asset monitoring in oil refinery installations, and energy monitoring in power plant substations. Integrations often involve SCADA systems, MES platforms, and ERP interfaces from providers such as Siemens, Rockwell Automation, and ABB.

Security and Vulnerabilities

CIP implementations face security concerns familiar to industrial control systems, including unauthenticated explicit messaging, replay attacks on implicit I/O, and vulnerabilities in gateway devices linking Operational Technology networks to Information Technology networks. Incidents and advisories involving industrial protocols have prompted guidance from organizations like NIST, ICS-CERT, and ENISA recommending network segmentation, secure device identity, and use of IPsec and TLS where applicable for Ethernet/IP transport. Security extensions and best practices for CIP include device authentication, authorization, secure firmware update procedures influenced by IEC 62443, and anomaly detection through integration with Security Information and Event Management systems.

Implementation and Interoperability

Vendors implement CIP stacks in firmware, middleware, and gateway devices to enable connectivity between PLC vendors, robotic OEMs, and control system integrators. Interoperability testing occurs at events hosted by ODVA, at certification labs operated by vendors, and during joint projects with systems integrators and end users such as General Motors, Toyota, and Boeing. Gateway products translate between CIP and competing protocols like PROFINET, Modbus TCP, and OPC UA, often leveraging commercial off-the-shelf industrial routers and managed switches from companies including Cisco Systems, Hirschmann, and Belden.

Standards and Governance

CIP and its mappings are governed and maintained by ODVA, which publishes specifications, conformance tests, and device profiles while coordinating with standards bodies such as IEC, IEEE, and ISO to align safety, timing, and network interoperability requirements. The evolution of CIP profiles like CIP Motion and CIP Safety reflects cross-industry collaboration with trade organizations and consortia including the Industrial Internet Consortium and regional testing labs present at exhibitions like SPS IPC Drives and EMO. Conformance programs and certification processes ensure that products claiming CIP compatibility meet defined behavior for classes, services, and network mappings.

Category:Industrial communication protocols