Common wireless fieldbus interface on track for 2009

The Fieldbus Foundation has announced that the Wireless Cooperation Team (WCT) is close to validating specifications and compliance guidelines for a common interface and wireless solution that supports the HART, Foundation fieldbus, Profibus and Profinet communications networks.

The common interface is intended to make it easier for automation end users to take advantage of evolving wireless technologies.

“The Project Team has made good progress this year towards the ultimate goal of a specification for a common interface to a wireless gateway with the output supporting HART, Foundation fieldbus, Profibus and Profinet communications technologies," said Martin Zielinski, Chairman of the WCT Project Steering Committee.

“We are on track to validate a new specification and compliance guidelines in 2009.”

The WCT comprises members of the Fieldbus Foundation, HART Communication Foundation and Profibus Nutzerorganisation e.V (PNO), who are collaborating to facilitate the acceptance of wireless technology in the manufacturing and process industries worldwide. The three organisations are represented by team members from leading industry suppliers, including Emerson Process Management, Honeywell, Siemens, ABB, Endress+Hauser, Pepperl+Fuchs and Festo.

The organisations have been collaborating on electronic device description language (EDDL) technology since 2003, forming the WCT in September 2007.