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Fieldbus Foundation and ISA100 Approve Multiple Protocol Model

Dec. 28, 2012

Backhaul architecture model provides common framework that will allow multiple industrial communication protocols to run on a process automation system network.

David Greenfield, editor in chief

Fieldbus Foundation remains at the forefront of industry efforts to ease integration of multiple industrial communication protocols. At the end of November it was reported that specifications for HART and WirelessHART transducer blocks had been added to the latest Foundation Fieldbus technical specifications. This step reportedly enables full integration of HART and WirelessHART device information, including device diagnostics, into a Foundation for ROM (remote operations management) system.

Foundation for ROM was designed to enable fieldbus connectivity to remote I/O and industrial wireless protocols. It is used to bring large concentrations of discrete and analog field I/O back to the control room using HSE (Fieldbus Foundation’s high speed Ethernet protocol) communication

Now comes news that the Fieldbus Foundation has approved a backhaul architecture model, developed in collaboration with International Society of Automation standards committee ISA100, that provides a common framework enabling multiple industrial communication protocols to run over a shared wireless backhaul network in process automation systems.

A wireless backhaul is a wireless communications system to get data from an end user to a node in a network. In networking terminology, a “backhaul” is essentially the means of getting data from some point on the network to the network backbone.

Plans are underway for a series of field demonstrations using the Foundation for ROM wireless HSE backhaul at end user locations such as Reliance Industries (India), Petrobras (Brazil) and Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia). The field demos will highlight the functionality of Foundation for ROM, including wireless device integration, remote I/O integration, and wireless backhaul capabilities.

About the Author

David Greenfield, editor in chief | Editor in Chief

David Greenfield joined Automation World in June 2011. Bringing a wealth of industry knowledge and media experience to his position, David’s contributions can be found in AW’s print and online editions and custom projects. Earlier in his career, David was Editorial Director of Design News at UBM Electronics, and prior to joining UBM, he was Editorial Director of Control Engineering at Reed Business Information, where he also worked on Manufacturing Business Technology as Publisher.