Standards

Industrial wireless standards are essential in meeting the needs of plants today and in the future. Two standards currently under development are aimed at industrial wireless sensing solutions using mesh networking and IEEE 802.15.4 radios. The HART Communication Foundation (HCF) is working on WirelessHART, an open wireless mesh networking communications protocol aimed at leveraging the information collected by the nearly 25 million installed HART [Highway Addressable Remote Transducer] devices. WirelessHART is geared specifically to the process industry, with a goal of adding wireless capabilities to the HART protocol to enable reliable, robust, and secure wireless communication in real-world industrial plant applications. The WirelessHART specification was released in 2007 and products are expected to be available in the marketplace by the second half of 2008.

The second standard is ISA100. It is being developed by the ISA organization as a family of standards. ISA100 will support multiple protocols, including its own native protocol and others such as HART, Profibus, CIP and Foundation Fieldbus, on a single, integrated wireless network. The current release of the standard, ISA100.11a – the component of ISA100 that is involved with wireless transport of field transmitter measurements - is focused on process automation, but does not exclude factory automation applications. The ISA100.11a single wireless network will accommodate all current and future application or system protocol needs while preserving existing protocol investments. To ensure compatibility, continuity, and uniformity, the two groups are cooperating and relying heavily on end user and vendor input. The ISA100.11a standard is in the comment period and is slated for release before the end of 2008.

With leadership roles in both the development of ISA100.11.a and Wireless HART, AirSprite supports and contributes to the creation efforts of industrial wireless sensor network standards. These organizations are developing open, interoperable standards and specifications that are creating a framework for products that will drive the broad adoption of wireless sensor networking within the industrial sector.

Founded in 1945, ISA is a leading, global, nonprofit organization that is setting the standard for automation by helping over 30,000 worldwide members and other professionals solve difficult technical problems, while enhancing their leadership and personal career capabilities.

The ISA SP-100 Committee will establish standards, recommended practices, technical reports, and related information that will define procedures for implementing wireless systems in the automation and control environment with a focus on the field level (Level 0). Guidance is directed towards those responsible for the complete life cycle including the designing, implementing, on-going maintenance, scalability or managing manufacturing and control systems, and shall apply to users, system integrators, practitioners, and control systems manufacturers and vendors.

For more information on the ISA SP-100 click here.

The HART Communication Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit organization providing worldwide support for application of the HART Protocol. Established in 1993, the Foundation is the technology owner and standards setting body for the HART Protocol.

The Foundation manages the Protocol standards, ensures the technology is openly available for the benefit of the industry and educates users by providing vendor-neutral training and support for application of the HART Protocol.
Major instrumentation manufacturers and users around the world support the Foundation. Membership is open anyone interested in the use of HART technology.

For more information on the HART Communications Foundation click here.