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Master'sRobotics, Automation & Control Applications open

Master’s in EtherCAT Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in EtherCAT engineering, structured in 12 modules covering EtherCAT principles, slave architecture, distributed clocks, communication profiles, masters, motion control, FSoE functional safety, gateways, network diagnostics and device development, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor
Virtual lab · try it before you enrol

Take the controls.

Run a real engineering trade-off from this programme. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.

SIM · LIVE ●
Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand how EtherCAT works and its on-the-fly processing.

02

Configure EtherCAT slaves and masters.

03

Apply distributed clocks for synchronisation.

04

Configure drives with the CiA 402 profile.

05

Implement functional safety with FSoE.

06

Diagnose faults in EtherCAT networks.

07

Develop devices that conform to the specification.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Fieldbus engineers who want to master EtherCAT in depth.
  • Motion control engineers working with synchronised multi-axis systems.
  • Industrial firmware developers building EtherCAT slaves.
  • Machine integrators commissioning EtherCAT-based machinery.
  • Network diagnostics specialists troubleshooting industrial Ethernet.
  • EtherCAT device designers preparing products for conformance.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter machinery manufacturing.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • IEC 61158-3-12 (EtherCAT data-link layer service definition)
  • IEC 61784-2 (real-time Ethernet communication profiles)
  • IEC 61784-3-12 (functional safety communication profile, Safety over EtherCAT)
  • IEC 61800-7-201:2015 (drive profile type 1, CiA 402)
  • IEC 61800-5-2:2016 (functional safety of adjustable speed drives)
  • ETG.1000 (EtherCAT Technology Group specification)
  • ISO 13849-1:2023 (safety-related parts of control systems)
  • Beckhoff TwinCAT 3
  • CODESYS
  • SOEM
  • Wireshark
  • EtherCAT Conformance Test Tool
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1. On-the-fly frame processing
  2. 1.2. Comparison with other Ethernet fieldbuses
  3. 1.3. Line, tree and ring topologies
  4. 1.4. 100BASE-TX and E-Bus physical layer
  5. 1.5. Master and slaves
  6. 1.6. Telegrams and datagrams
  7. 1.7. Logical addressing and FMMU
  8. 1.8. ETG and the IEC 61158 specification
  9. 1.9. Application scope of EtherCAT
  10. 1.10. Practical exercise: capturing EtherCAT frames
  1. 2.1. ESC slave controllers
  2. 2.2. Process memory and Sync Managers
  3. 2.3. ESM state machine
  4. 2.4. Mailbox and acyclic communication
  5. 2.5. ESI description files
  6. 2.6. EEPROM and SII
  7. 2.7. Microcontrollers with integrated ESC
  8. 2.8. SSC slave stacks
  9. 2.9. Hardware design of a slave
  10. 2.10. Lab: slave configuration with SSC
  1. 3.1. DC distributed clocks
  2. 3.2. Calculating propagation delays
  3. 3.3. SYNC0 and SYNC1 signals
  4. 3.4. Synchronisation accuracy
  5. 3.5. Free run and SM-synchronous modes
  6. 3.6. Jitter and its measurement
  7. 3.7. Synchronisation with external time
  8. 3.8. Applications in motion control
  9. 3.9. Diagnosing DC errors
  10. 3.10. Practical exercise: measuring jitter with an oscilloscope
  1. 4.1. CANopen over EtherCAT (CoE)
  2. 4.2. Servo Drive Profile (SoE)
  3. 4.3. File Access over EtherCAT
  4. 4.4. Ethernet over EtherCAT
  5. 4.5. CiA 402 drive profile
  6. 4.6. CSP, CSV and CST modes
  7. 4.7. Configurable PDO mapping
  8. 4.8. SDO objects and the object dictionary
  9. 4.9. ETG device profiles
  10. 4.10. Workshop: configuring a CiA 402 servo drive
  1. 5.1. Master functions
  2. 5.2. Masters in TwinCAT
  3. 5.3. Masters in CODESYS
  4. 5.4. Open-source masters SOEM and IgH
  5. 5.5. Real-time Linux masters
  6. 5.6. ENI configuration files
  7. 5.7. Start-up and network scanning
  8. 5.8. Hot Connect and optional groups
  9. 5.9. Cable redundancy
  10. 5.10. Lab: SOEM master on Linux
  1. 6.1. Centralised control architecture
  2. 6.2. Position loops in the master
  3. 6.3. Multi-axis interpolation
  4. 6.4. Robot kinematics
  5. 6.5. Electronic cams and gearing
  6. 6.6. 250-microsecond cycles
  7. 6.7. Integration with servo motors
  8. 6.8. Drive tuning
  9. 6.9. Machine examples
  10. 6.10. Practical exercise: synchronised control of two axes
  1. 7.1. The black channel principle
  2. 7.2. Safety over EtherCAT
  3. 7.3. IEC 61784-3 standards
  4. 7.4. TwinSAFE safety logic
  5. 7.5. Safe I/O devices
  6. 7.6. Safety functions in drives
  7. 7.7. Validation of safety projects
  8. 7.8. PFH calculation
  9. 7.9. Integration into machines
  10. 7.10. Case study: STO safe stop on a servo drive
  1. 8.1. EtherCAT to Profinet gateways
  2. 8.2. EtherCAT to EtherNet/IP
  3. 8.3. IO-Link integration
  4. 8.4. EtherCAT Automation Protocol
  5. 8.5. EtherCAT G and G10
  6. 8.6. Connection with OPC UA
  7. 8.7. Integration with third-party PLCs
  8. 8.8. Communication with vision systems
  9. 8.9. Mixed networks in machines
  10. 8.10. Workshop: gateway to an external PLC
  1. 9.1. CRC error counters
  2. 9.2. Lost link and link errors
  3. 9.3. Diagnostic tools
  4. 9.4. Analysis with Wireshark
  5. 9.5. Topology and fault location
  6. 9.6. Cabling quality
  7. 9.7. Interference and EMC
  8. 9.8. Maintenance procedures
  9. 9.9. Event logging
  10. 9.10. Practical exercise: locating a cable fault
  1. 10.1. Selecting the ESC and microcontroller
  2. 10.2. PCB and magnetics design
  3. 10.3. Slave firmware
  4. 10.4. ESI generation
  5. 10.5. CTT conformance testing
  6. 10.6. ETG plugfests
  7. 10.7. Device certification
  8. 10.8. Product documentation
  9. 10.9. Product life cycle
  10. 10.10. Case study: designing an I/O module
  1. 11.1. Packaging machines
  2. 11.2. Industrial robots with EtherCAT
  3. 11.3. Semiconductor manufacturing equipment
  4. 11.4. CNC machine tools
  5. 11.5. Test benches
  6. 11.6. Energy and substations
  7. 11.7. Medical and diagnostic equipment
  8. 11.8. Entertainment and stage technology
  9. 11.9. Performance compared with other fieldbuses
  10. 11.10. Case study: high-speed test bench
  1. 12.1. Requirements of the machine or test bench
  2. 12.2. EtherCAT network design
  3. 12.3. Master configuration
  4. 12.4. Drive integration
  5. 12.5. FSoE safety functions
  6. 12.6. Synchronisation testing
  7. 12.7. Performance analysis
  8. 12.8. Conclusions and improvements
  9. 12.9. Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10. Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it is compatible with full-time work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Beckhoff TwinCAT 3, CODESYS, SOEM, Wireshark and the EtherCAT Conformance Test Tool, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for configuring EtherCAT networks with servo drives, measuring synchronisation with distributed clocks and diagnosing communication faults. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: IEC 61158-3-12, IEC 61784-2, IEC 61784-3-12, IEC 61800-7-201:2015, IEC 61800-5-2:2016, ETG.1000, ISO 13849-1:2023.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of IEC 61158, IEC 61784 and IEC 61800-7 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Beckhoff TwinCAT 3, CODESYS, SOEM, Wireshark and EtherCAT Conformance Test Tool, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:An EtherCAT network design and integration for a machine or test bench, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Define machine requirements
Specify the requirements of the machine or test bench to be networked.
Design the EtherCAT network
Lay out topology, slaves and the master configuration with ENI files.
Integrate the drives
Configure servo drives with CiA 402 and synchronise axes with distributed clocks.
Add FSoE safety functions
Implement and validate safety functions such as STO over Safety over EtherCAT.
Master's Thesis
An EtherCAT network design and integration for a machine or test bench, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Fieldbus engineerMotion control engineerIndustrial firmware developerMachine integratorNetwork diagnostics specialistEtherCAT device designer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with Beckhoff TwinCAT 3, CODESYS, SOEM, Wireshark and EtherCAT Conformance Test Tool, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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