Nexcom has released validation results for its ISA 142 time-sensitive networking (TSN) switch, demonstrating nanosecond-level precision for industrial edge applications.

Nexcom's 16-port switch is designed for warehouse automation and production logistics, where synchronized timing across robots, conveyors, and sensors is critical.

The vendor argues that traditional industrial Ethernet provides connectivity but lacks the precise time coordination needed when hundreds of devices must operate within microsecond windows. Its ISA 142 aims to address the needs of industrial use cases by acting as a time distribution gateway, synchronizing equipment under a unified clock with sub-microsecond accuracy.

Results from testing published in a recently released white paper showed the switch maintained average timing offsets of under 10 nanoseconds across an eight-hour synchronization chain.

Key to the performance results was the use of Nexcom's TSN Switch Suite software, which simplifies configuration of IEEE 802.1AS timing synchronization and traffic management protocols. The toolkit combines open source synchronization software with hardware-level control, allowing the switch to work with both legacy and modern equipment.

Built on an Intel Atom quad-core processor, the ISA 142 features ruggedized ports, dual power inputs, and wide-temperature operation for demanding industrial environments.

Validation testing confirmed the switch's compliance with three core TSN standards: precise clock synchronization (802.1AS), bandwidth reservation for priority traffic (802.1Qav), and time-gated transmission scheduling (802.1Qbv).

The vendor said the results demonstrated the switch can prevent common automation problems like mechanical desynchronization and sensor data mismatches that occur when network timing drifts by even 50 milliseconds.

Based in Taiwan, Nexcom has been developing networking solutions since the early 90s. Its software-defined solutions provide the connectivity required to support scalable network infrastructures in industries reliant on edge connectivity.

It partnered with Enea back in 2021 to develop a kit to help customers deploy secure SD-WAN solutions.

In more recent years, the vendor has sought to develop networking tech to provide secure connectivity at the edge, such as its Neu-X102-N50 used in environments like hospitals to secure garment cabinets.

Nexcom has even made strides into humanoid robots with its MARS400 T10. The controller system, based on Nvidia's Jetson Thor kit, sits inside a humanoid robot and processes all of its sensor data to support its movement and actions.