NS100 Anti-Sway Solution for Siemens PLC

The Noswing NS100 is a high-precision anti-sway sensor designed for electric overhead and gantry cranes. It continuously measures the hoist rope angle in real time, providing the critical feedback required to actively dampen load sway during travel, lifting, and lowering.

The NS100 is the core sensing component in the Noswing anti-sway system and is intended for use together with Siemens PLCs running the Noswing anti-sway function block. 

Download the NS100 manual

What the NS100 Does

Every crane movement creates natural pendulum motion in the load. The NS100 measures this motion directly at the hoist by detecting rope angle in two axes. This data allows the PLC to calculate optimal acceleration, travel speed, and deceleration ramps that actively counteract sway.

When used correctly, the NS100 enables:

• Reduced load swing during travel and stopping
• Improved positioning accuracy
• Shorter cycle times
• Increased safety and smoother crane operation
• Reduced mechanical wear on the hoist and structure

Control System Requirement 

The NS100 is a sensor only. It does not perform anti-sway control by itself.

To function as intended, the following is required:

• Siemens PLC

• Siemens-based anti-sway control logic, such as:

  • Noswing NSCore Anti-sway function blocks, or

  • Siemens-compatible anti-sway function blocks

• PLC logic must actively use the rope-angle data from the NS100 to generate motion commands

Without an appropriate anti-sway function block in the PLC, the NS100 will only provide raw angle data and no sway reduction will occur.

Communication Interface

• Sensor interface: Modbus RTU

• Physical layer: RS-485

• Data provided:

• Rope angle (two axes)
• Angle direction
• Dynamic motion data for real-time control

The NS100 communicates exclusively via Modbus RTU.

PROFINET Integration 

The NS100 does NOT communicate directly via PROFINET.

If your control system is PROFINET-based, you must use a Modbus RTU to PROFINET gateway, for example:

• MOXA MGATE series or equivalent industrial protocol converter

The typical setup is:

NS100 (Modbus RTU)
→ Modbus RTU to PROFINET converter
→ Siemens PLC via PROFINET

A compatible GSD file is used in Siemens TIA Portal to integrate the converter and map the NS100 data into the PLC.

Technical Highlights

• Two-axis rope-angle measurement
• Real-time feedback for PLC-based anti-sway control
• Modbus RTU communication (RS-485)
• IP65-rated industrial housing
• Operating temperature: –40 °C to +85 °C
• Designed for continuous crane operation
• Compatible with Siemens TIA Portal environments (via gateway)

Typical Applications

• Overhead cranes
• Gantry cranes
• Semi-automatic crane systems
• Fully automatic crane systems
• Anti-sway retrofits on Siemens-based control platforms

What’s Included

• NS100 Anti-Sway Sensor
  
• Anti-sway function blocks
• Modbus-to-PROFINET converter

Not included:

• Siemens PLC
  
• PLC programming or commissioning