UCF Senior Design Group 24
Project Sponsor
Modbus to DNP3 Gateway
Group Members
- Joshua Daly, CpE
- Daniel Doherty, CpE
- Mac Lightbourn, EE
- Joseph Wilkinson, EE
What is it?
The Modbus to DNP3 protocol converter is a device that Motor Protection Electronics (a designer and manufacturer of industrial controls for the water and wastewater industry) will use in lift stations to facilitate network communications between network nodes that use different protocols. Currently, all of MPE’s pump controllers follow the Modbus protocol. For decades this has been the most commonly available protocol for devices within SCADA networks, though by no means is it the industry standard. MPE wishes to revamp its product line to follow the newer DNP3 protocol, which is more sophisticated and efficient than Modbus although more difficult to implement. The device outlined in the following documentation will act as a gateway anywhere in the network of pump controllers that a device using the Modbus protocol needs to communicate with another device using the DNP3 protocol. Perhaps not as flashy as some other senior design projects, the protocol converter nevertheless will fulfill a real-world need and provide a tremendous challenge to the design team in the field of embedded systems.