Abstract: An optically-connected system is disclosed for exchanging data among industrial automation devices, that is composed of a plurality of connection elements, where each element comprises at least two pairs of optical transmitters and receivers on the main side, and one optical receiver on the opposing main side, that are opposite with respect to another pair of transmitters and receivers in a following element; and where each one of the transmitters and receivers is adapted to communicate with industrial automation devices to cooperate for exchanging data between elements, sending one interrogation signal requesting an identity of the receiver and the receiver is adapted to send to each corresponding response signal containing characteristics of the receiver.