PI, FF and HCF to provide simplified wireless communication for the process industry
PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI), Fieldbus Foundation (FF) and HART Communication Foundation (HCF) are currently working intensively on the development of an architecture for a WirelessHART gateway. The background to this is that although the process industry appreciates the benefits of wireless communication it is still not making sufficient use of it. WirelessHART uses a mesh network, i.e. each device can generate or receive signals (sensors/actuators) and pass them on to surrounding devices (repeater function). According to users the greatest obstacle when implementing wireless systems is the complicated integration of WirelessHART mesh networks into the existing automation environment.
The gateway is designed to facilitate the bi-directional communication of a WirelessHART mesh network with a host via the PI protocols PROFIBUS or PROFINET or the Fieldbus Foundation’s HSE (High Speed Ethernet) protocol. The device ensures a standardized global architecture and simplifies integration between different host automation systems. The I/O mapping of the wireless-sensor-parameters (device address, device designation, process variables, process alarms etc.) and the use of the device description files are likewise standardized in the PROFIBUS, PROFINET and HSE protocols.
This architecture puts manufacturers in a position to provide marketable gateway products as well as the corresponding configuration software. As with the previously successful cooperation between the three organizations on the Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL), this agreement on a common architecture for the gateway is a further step towards open systems for end-users in process automation.
More information is available on PROFIBUS and PROFINET from www.profibus.com , PI”s global website, where technical, marketing and sales information can be found, plus an on-line catalogue of over 2500 products.
Bob Squirrell, Chairman,
The PROFIBUS Group, Suite 183, 111 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2HX
Email: uk@profibus.com
Tel/voice mail: +44 20 8144 9597
Fax: +44 870 141 7378
Skype (VoIP): bobsquirrell
The PROFIBUS Group
- 0208 144 9597
- uk@profibus.com
- http://www.profibusgroup.com
- Suite 183, 19 Lever Street, Manchester, M1 1AN GB
About us
PI UK was founded as The PROFIBUS Group in 1993 to promote the use of PROFIBUS in the UK. More recently it has added PROFINET and IO-Link to the range of technologies supported by the group and is now known as PROFIBUS and PROFINET International UK, or PI UK for short. Registered in the UK as a Trade Association, PI UK is run by a Steering Committee elected by its members. It is not a limited company and hence has no company registration number, but it is fully accountable within the UK and is VAT registered, number GB 643240662.
Where we supply to
Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, North America
Industries we supply to
Automation, Chemicals, Consultants, Components Electronics, Energy and Power, Food and Beverage, Glass Ceramics Cement, Metals and Minerals, OEM, Paper and Pulp, Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Toiletries, Plastics and Rubber, Recycling, Textiles, Tobacco, Water and Wastewater
