Invensys donates FOUNDATION fieldbus extensions to PACTware Consortium
Foxboro, MA—Invensys Process Systems reports that it has transferred ownership of software extensions for FOUNDATION fieldbus to the PACTware Consortium.
Foxboro, MA— Invensys Process Systems reports that it has transferred ownership of software extensions for FOUNDATION fieldbus to the PACTware Consortium. This reportedly will extend the multivendor interoperability of FDT-based PACTware device configuration and support applications to FOUNDATION fieldbus.
These Invensys-developed extensions enable PACTware frame applications to integrate FDT-based FOUNDATION fieldbus components. This includes both Device Type Managers (DTMs), which encapsulate device characteristics; and Block Type Managers (BTMs), which manage FOUNDATION fieldbus device blocks.
A standalone implementation of the FDT 1.2 specification, PACTware is an open-source frame application that allows field devices’ DTMs and BTMs to be displayed as a window in PACTware’s graphical user interface. With its Invensys-developed and -verified software extensions, PACTware’s capability as a vendor-independent application for configuring, commissioning, and managing intelligent field devices now encompasses all major fieldbuses, such as HART, Profibus, and FOUNDATION fieldbus.
“As an early and ardent proponent of fieldbus technology, Invensys firmly believes that the true benefit of fieldbus comes from providing end-users with the freedom to choose the fieldbus instrumentation and related asset management applications that work best for them, regardless of instrument or system vendor, and to do so without compromising any functionality. FDT provides that freedom. That’s why we’re so pleased to be able to donate these modest, yet critical, software extensions to the PACTware Consortium to be able to support FF on FDT,” said Scott Bump, director of fieldbus technology development at Invensys’ Foxboro Automation unit.
Control Engineering Daily News DeskJim Montague, news editorjmontague@reedbusiness.com
Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our WTWH Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.
