Wireless, cable, diagnostics, demo: Foundation fieldbus

Fieldbus Foundation and ISA collaborate on wireless initiative; there’s a new Central and Eastern European Marketing Committee; the first H1 fieldbus cable was registered; Diagnostic Profiles Specification was released; and ISA104 had a demo at ISA Expo 2008. See photo.

By Control Engineering Staff October 20, 2008

Austin, TX — An abundance of recent Fieldbus Foundation news includes: The Foundation and ISA announced a collaborative wireless initiative; there’s a new Central and Eastern European Marketing Committee; the first H1 fieldbus cable was registered; the final Diagnostic Profiles Specification was released; and Fieldbus Foundation supported the ISA104 demo at ISA Expo 2008 last week in Houston. Fieldbus Foundation and ISA will facilitate the implementation of wireless backhaul transport networks, an initiative based on shared interests in serving the needs of users and suppliers of wireless systems in industrial automation. Fieldbus Foundation and ISA have entered into a cross-licensing agreement allowing them to collaborate on wireless networks. To enable the ISA100.15 working group to develop the wireless backhaul standard, it will be necessary to use extracts of Fieldbus Foundation specifications and parts of other ISA standards in development. The Foundation and ISA will develop a standard to interface between different technologies suitable for backhaul networking; address wireless co-existence related to backhaul networks; define prioritization of multiple applications and ensure quality of service; support multiple application protocol translators; and address security issues on backhaul networks. ISA will publish technical documents as a standard within the ISA100 wireless family of standards ; this will be jointly owned by the two organizations.

A new Fieldbus Foundation marketing committee will help promoted the industrial network in marketing activities in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey.

Fieldbus Foundation established the Central and Eastern European Marketing Committee (FFCEEMC) at an inaugural meeting held last month in Prague, Czech Republic, to promote increased awareness and adoption of Foundation technology throughout the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region through a range of user-focused activities, including training, technical support, tradeshow participation and user seminars. FFCEEMC will be responsible for marketing activities in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey. Fully supported by the Fieldbus Foundation EMEA Executive Advisory Council (EAC) and the Fieldbus Foundation EMEA Steering Committee, FFCEEMC will play a role in promoting the value propositions of Foundation technology. Juergen George (Pepperl+Fuchs) was elected Chairman, Jozef Schulcz (Yokogawa) Vice-Chairman, and Laszlo Marosi (Honeywell) Treasurer. The first Foundation fieldbus H1 cable has been registered . The registration process provides greater assurance to automation users that their wiring systems are suitable for fieldbus system operation. Belden, Northwire, Phoenix Contact, and Rockbestos-Surprenant Cable Corp. are the first cable suppliers to pass the registration process, which signifies that a cable is suitable for any H1 fieldbus application, including high temperature and corrosive environments. Registration assures that the cable is electrically precise and meets FOUNDATION fieldbus Type A cable physical property requirements. A list of registered FOUNDATION fieldbus H1 cable is available on the Website. The final Diagnostic Profiles Specification has been released. The specification is based on guidelines established by the NAMUR Working Group 2.6 and builds upon diagnostic features already provided by Foundation fieldbus devices and allows users to harness enhanced Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL) technology to achieve true, actionable diagnostics. Using the power of Foundation fieldbus, and considering the NAMUR NE107 (Self Monitoring and Diagnosis of Field Devices) recommendations for diagnostic profiles support, the Foundation developed a profiles specification enhancing organization and integration of device diagnostics within Foundation fieldbus systems. The specification will help ensure future fieldbus devices are consistent with NAMUR guidelines. A copy of the Specification is available to members on Fieldbus Forums (https://forums.fieldbus.org) under Member Forums – New Specification Forum. EDDL support : Fieldbus Foundation joined control industry leaders in supporting Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL) solutions for process automation systems and devices at ISA Expo last week, with an ISA104 demo . Process automation systems supplied by ABB, Emerson, Invensys, and Siemens demonstrated EDDL functionality, interoperating with devices from Emerson, Endress+Hauser, Foxboro Eckardt, Metso, MTL, Samson, and Siemens.At the exhibit, information displayed on automation systems was controlled by device manufacturers, yet devices from different vendors appeared consistent on the same systems, a new feature for this year’s demonstration. Device types included simple transmitters, but the focus was on complex devices such as variable speed drives, control valve positioners, and bus diagnostics.– Control Engineering News Desk Register here and scroll down to select your choice of eNewsletters free.