GigE Vision 3.0
The latest update of the GigE Vision standard enables even faster data transmission
GigE Vision 3.0 is currently being developed by the A3 organization and its GigE Vision Technical Committee, on which Basler also participates. The new version takes advantage of the advances in Ethernet hardware and the RoCEv2 protocol. In this way, it improves speed and latency in image processing and industrial automation.
GigE Vision 3.0 – an interface standard in image processing
Standards generally facilitate integration into vision systems and across system boundaries. As one of the leading manufacturers of vision technology, we offer systems based on stable and powerful interfaces such as USB, CoaXPress or Gigabit Ethernet (GigE). GigE is the interface in machine vision, the use of which has increased most rapidly in recent years. Reason enough to further advance this development.
GigE Vision offers maximum technical flexibility
GigE Vision is a vision & imaging standard for industrial camera interfaces: The aim is to standardize communication between applications and devices for digital image processing via Ethernet technologies. The standard offers the greatest technical flexibility in terms of bandwidth, cable length and multi-camera functionality.
Within GigE Vision 2.0, GVSP (GigE Vision Stream Protocol) is the protocol responsible for the reliable transport of image data packets from the camera to the host. The Precision Time Protocol (PTP) according to IEEE 1588 precisely synchronizes and/or operates in real time.
GigE Vision 3.0 stands for higher speed, reliability and efficiency
Minimal latency thanks to the new RoCEv2 streaming protocol
The most important innovation and extension of GigE Vision 3.0 is the integration of the protocol RoCEv2 (RDMA over Converged Ethernet Version 2) for data streaming. It complements the existing streaming protocol GVSP. This means that GigE Vision 3.0 is designed as a supplement and not as a replacement for the current version 2.2. RoCEv2 offers higher speed, minimal latency and an overall noticeable increase in system performance while retaining existing functionalities.
Optimized Ethernet hardware
Version 3.0 offers significant advantages in both image processing and industrial automation. The optimization of Ethernet hardware plays a central role here, especially through the use of RoCEv2-capable network cards (NICs).These specially optimized NICs support data transfer rates of up to 400 Gbps – in some cases even higher – and make Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) over Converged Ethernet possible.
RoCEv2 enables lean transmission of image data
For image data transmission, the RoCEv2 protocol brings the innovation, image data packets to receive and assemble – without buffering or copying by the CPU. Thanks to the direct memory access architecture, image data can be written directly to any data store. Loss of image data packets is eliminated and latency is reduced.
There is also an advantage on the camera side: the required buffer memory is significantly reduced.
Bypassing the CPU has a double effect: first, it eliminates a source of error, and second, it frees up system resources for other tasks. Overall, GigE Vision 3.0 has the potential to reduce overall system costs.
The RoCEv2 protocol, originally developed for extremely demanding environments, is a multiplier that reinforces all the advantages of GigE Vision at the same time: Thus, the GigE 3.0 version will become highly important for the machine vision market in the long term.
Advantages of GigE Vision 3.0 at a glance
No CPU usage: System resources are freed up for other tasks and the overall performance increases
Multi-camera systems become more powerful and reliable
RoCEv2 ensures a more consistent and More reliable data transmission, which minimizes interruptions in critical applications, among other things
RoCEv2 Connections Higher data transfer rates. As a result, imaging systems more and offer high scalability for latency-critical applications.
The Low latency improves the responsiveness of the system, making it ideal for robotics and automation
Compatibility and interoperability: The current GigE Vision control protocol is retained, ensuring a seamless transition. Existing software only needs to be adapted minimally.
Outlook: Rapid deployment expected
GigE Vision 3.0 is expected to be launched in 2025: A3, the US Association for Advancing Automation, is responsible and licensor for the GigE Vision standard. It expects to be able to release the updated interface in the course of the year.
The technical responsibility for the interface is borne by the A3 GigE Vision Technical Committee, where we are represented by our Senior Product Architect Michael Schmidt. Since GigE Vision 3.0 was designed as a supplement and not as a replacement for the current version 2.2, a quick deployment of the new version can be expected.