Unified Device Integration Roadmap Solidified
FieldComm Group’s Strategic Integration Committee (SIC) has announced the official timeline for releasing the updated Field Device Integration (FDI) specification. This milestone marks a critical step toward unifying device integration across process, hybrid and factory automation.
Following the transfer of FDT/DTM assets to FieldComm Group in 2024, the organization has accelerated its efforts toward unified device integration. The resulting roadmap is a product of coordinated work by the SIC and specialized working groups. Comprised of board-level companies from FieldComm Group along with key leaders from the OPC Foundation, ODVA and Profibus and Profinet International, the SIC has led the harmonization of FDI and FDT technologies to deliver a unified, intuitive and scalable device integration standard that addresses the evolving needs of modern manufacturing, helping end users and vendors.
Key enhancements in the updated FDI Specification:
- Compliance, incorporating the requirements of the Cyber Resilience Act.
- Unified device integration standard for process and factory automation.
- Support for legacy systems, enabling modernization without infrastructure replacement.
- Real-time OT/IT connectivity through a common information model (PA-DIM).
- Support for modern platforms and development tools.
- Empowering intelligent device and lifecycle management with protocol tunneling support, also known as nested communications.
Release of the updated FDI Specification is expected by the end of 2026, followed by deployment of the updated FDI Developer Toolkit by the end of 2027. Market availability of registered FDI-enabled systems and devices is expected in 2029.
"Our goal is to deliver a unified device integration solution that enhances data interoperability with OT/IT systems while supporting innovative features for modern manufacturing,” said Steve Biegacki, chair of the Strategic Integration Committee and former managing director of the FDT Group. “This approach also provides a practical migration path, safeguarding existing investments and preparing the industry for future advancements."
