Wired and wireless devices must pass rigorous test program to earn "HART Registered" designation - The HART® Communication Foundation announced an update to the HART Device Registration Testing Tools that includes the HART Test System, the new Wireless Test System, the Wi-Analys Network Analyzer, and the original Physical Layer Test Kit. These testing tools play a key role in the development, compliance testing and verification of HART-enabled devices, allowing Foundation member companies designing wired and/or wireless HART devices to rigorously test them for compliance with the HART Protocol Standard (Revisions 5, 6 and 7).
Integrated Host Class registration - Yokogawa's CENTUM® VP integrated production control system and STARDOM™ network-based control system are among the first such systems to be certified by the Fieldbus Foundation™ as complying with all the requirements for registration as Integrated Host Class systems.
The Fieldbus Foundation's Host Profile Registration Program tests control systems (host systems) based on the FF-525 (Host Profile Registration Process) checklist. These tests verify whether systems support the features that are defined in FF-569 Rev. 2 (host interoperability support test and procedures revision 2.0). This specification sets out how host systems and field devices are to be linked via a FOUNDATION™ fieldbus network. A registered host system is formally recognised to comply with the foundation's interoperability requirements and is allowed to bear the Foundation fieldbus product registration symbol.
Supporting Energy Management - PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) is currently tackling the issue of energy management. This was initiated by a request of the AIDA (Automation Initiative of German Automobile Manufacturers). Companies active in the AIDA use PROFINET in their systems. They have tasked PI with providing functions and mechanisms for PROFINET that support energy-efficient production.
The high cost of energy and compliance with legal obligations are forcing industry to deal with the issue of energy saving. For this reason, manufacturing companies have been taking stronger measures to reduce energy costs for several years. This issue is of special interest because other company goals, such as resource preservation and reduction of production times, can be achieved by skillfully introducing certain measures. Different equipment manufacturers already provide local energy saving options as well.
New Software for EDD Engineering ToolsPI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) is providing its members with two new powerful software components for distributing device descriptions based on EDDL. These include an EDD import library, which supports the development of IEC-compatible EDDs for PROFIBUS PA devices and an interpreter software for these EDDs for use in engineering tools.
Device descriptions based on the EDDL technology are widely used in process automation. The EDD import library is an IEC-compatible library of basic elements which can be used for very efficient development of EDDs for PROFIBUS PA devices. The scope of delivery of the EDD import library also includes the source text files and corresponding documentation with implementation instructions. PI member companies can download the EDD import library free of charge from the PI website: www.profibus.com.
Wireless communication for sensors and actuators in factory automation - PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) has defined the upcoming work for wireless coupling of sensors and actuators in factory automation. Based on preliminary investigations, PI has decided to use radio technology compliant with IEEE 802.15.1 for manufacturing automation.
The investigations showed that a series of different requirements exist for coupling sensors and actuators in factory and process automation. On the one hand, performance requirements differ, and on the other, the standardized protocols for HART sensors and actuators (for process automation) and IO-Link (for manufacturing automation) are optimized to the respective requirements. WirelessHART uses radio technology compliant with the IEEE 802.15.4 standard for the transmission technology. Due to the higher requirements regarding response time, radio technology compliant with IEEE 802.15.1 will be used for manufacturing automation.
CANopen additional functions CAN in Automation (CiA) has released the CiA 302 specification series of CANopen additional functions. This set of specifications comprises descriptions of CANopen manager including Flying NMT (network management) master, SDO (service data object) manager, configuration manager, bus-line redundancy, and CANopen-to-CANopen gateways. The CiA 302 series version 4.1 substitutes the CiA 302 version 3.3 published 2003.
Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF) final specification and development tools announced - January 6, 2009 -- The Fieldbus Foundation has announced new device development solutions for its Foundation for Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF) technology. The latest SIF release includes the Foundation for SIF final Technical Specification package, SIF Interoperability Test Kit (ITK), and updated DD Library with SIF function blocks. These solutions support development of interoperable SIF devices for use in a wide range of industrial plant SIF applications.
The ARC Advisory Group recently issued a new white paper, "Foundation
Fieldbus Safety Instrumented Functions Forge the Future of Process Safety,"
describing Foundation SIF technology.
