ODVA and the FDT Group announced today that technical work is now underway in the FDT Group to develop an annex to the FDT2 specification for ODVA’s family of CIP Networks. The new annex will ensure that support for an FDT-compatible Device Type Manager is possible for users of EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, CompoNet and ControlNet who are also using the updates and enhancements to the FDT technology that are included in FDT2.
The FDT technology standardizes the configuration interface between field devices and host systems independent of the communication protocol used to transmit the data between them, allowing access to device parameters for applications where extensive device configuration may be needed. ODVA’s CIP technology encompasses a comprehensive suite of services for industrial automation applications, including control, safety, energy, synchronization, motion, information and network management. When FDT is used in combination with CIP and its network adaptations, the result system provides users with a feature-rich interoperable environment for configuration, command and control.
“The membership of the FDT Group includes several automation suppliers who provide FDT capability for their products implementing ODVA’s family of CIP Networks,” noted Glenn Schulz, managing director of the FDT Group. “The FDT Group fully supports this annex to the FDT2 specification to ensure use of the technology with the family of CIP networks.”
“Users deploy FDT and CIP in many similar automation applications, making compatibility of the two technologies very beneficial to users,” said Katherine Voss, president and executive director of ODVA. “Thus, ODVA is pleased to continue its long-standing cooperation with the FDT Group to help ensure that our specifications continue to support use of the two technologies concurrently in a single system.”
A technical working group has been formed within the FDT Group to prepare the annex for the FDT2 specification. The working group includes companies who are members of both ODVA and the FDT Group and individual participants with subject matter expertise in CIP and FDT2. The FDT Group expects the work to be completed in 2013 and included with both the FDT2 specification and in its IEC standard 62453. ODVA expects that there will be no impact on its specifications for the family of CIP Networks.
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