AiVibeCommon Industrial Protocol (CIP)
The Common Industrial Protocol is a media-independent, object-oriented application protocol managed by ODVA that provides a unified set of messaging services and device profiles for EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet and CompoNet.
CIP models every device as a collection of objects, each with attributes, services and behaviour; examples include the Identity object, the Assembly object that groups I/O data and the Connection Manager. Communication is connection-based: explicit messaging handles request-response transactions such as reading parameters, while implicit, or I/O, connections exchange real-time data in a producer-consumer pattern at configured rates. Device profiles define common behaviour for device types such as drives, valves and I/O blocks.
Because the application layer is shared, a device profile or diagnostic approach defined once applies across all CIP networks, and messages can be routed between EtherNet/IP and DeviceNet segments without application-level translation. CIP networks are widely used in discrete manufacturing, notably in North America.
CIP has been extended with CIP Safety, which carries safety and standard data on the same network using the black channel principle, CIP Motion for drive control, CIP Sync for IEEE 1588-based time synchronisation, CIP Energy and CIP Security. Electronic Data Sheet files describe device capabilities to engineering tools. The specifications are published by ODVA, and CIP-based networks are standardised within the IEC 61158 and IEC 61784 series.
Key points
- Object-oriented application protocol managed by ODVA
- Used by EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet and CompoNet
- Explicit messages for configuration; implicit connections for real-time I/O
- Device profiles standardise the behaviour of drives, valves and I/O
- Extended by CIP Safety, CIP Motion, CIP Sync and CIP Security
Where AiVibe comes in
AiVibe designs and manufactures the AiAmbA AI Factory, whose edge devices and AI agents let people talk to PLC, CNC and robot controllers in plain language. Agents only propose changes, a trained operator confirms each one, and the AI Factory never replaces a machine's control or safety systems.