Integration of the Future FDI Device Packages into FDT Based Systems

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DÜPERTHAL Sicherheitstechnik GmbH & Co. KG

TURCK GmbH

Italvacuum, Srl

The Device Definition, Business Logic and User Interface Description elements are based on EDDL. The technology of the User Interface Plug-ins and their software interfaces are based on the FDT specification.

The FDI Project was started in 2007 under the leadership of the ECT (EDDL Cooperation Team). The FDT Group also joined the ECT with the aim of harmonizing the two technologies. A number of renowned manufacturers now want to become even further involved than they were in the past in order to drive forward the additional measures required for standardization. The emphasis is on two aims:

• Firstly, standardization of the FDI Device Packages needs to be achieved through harmonization of the EDDL, through common development and testing tools and, in particular, through a common interpreter for the Hart, Profibus and Foundation fieldbus protocols.

• Secondly, it must be possible to use the FDI Device Packages both in classic control systems in the area of process automation and in FDT-based systems and tools. This is because the decisive issue for future device integration from the point of view of both users and manufacturers is standardized description and integration of devices.

The first aim has already been explained in the “EDDL harmonization” article. [3] An effective solution for achieving the second aim is presented below.

Integration of FDI Device Packages in FDT systems

As mentioned previously, FDI has mainly been shaped by the requirements of process automation. The architecture is therefore based on the platform-independent OPC-UA standard and EDDL-based elements for device description. However, this does not achieve the required openness, flexibility and scalability of FDT required in factory automation and other areas.

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