Ethernet Standard will support FDT technology.
Press Release Summary:
An annex to FDT specification for SERCOS III enables the high-performance real-time Ethernet communication standard to support FDT Technology, which is used by manufacturers to connect fieldbus devices to various software environments. FDT Technology standardizes communication interface between fieldbus devices and engineering tools, and extending this specification to SERCOS III lets users configure SERCOS III devices via FDT's DTM device drivers.
Original Press Release:
SERCOS and FDT: Working Together for Open Systems
The user organizations for the SERCOS III and FDT open standards announced an agreement to create an annex to the FDT specification for SERCOS III. Thus, SERCOS III will be the first high-performance real-time Ethernet communication standard to support FDT Technology, used by many manufacturers to connect fieldbus devices to a wide range of software environments.
FDT Technology standardizes the communication interface between fieldbus devices and engineering tools. Extending the FDT specification to SERCOS III will allow users to configure SERCOS III devices via FDT's powerful DTM device drivers. DTMs offer special functionality for detailed device configuration and analysis via a graphical user interface. The DTM application opens a window for the start-up, parameterization and diagnosis of the fieldbus devices, thus reducing the complexity of the application and increasing transparency for users and service technicians.
The collaboration between the FDT Group and SERCOS promotes the trend towards open standards in factory automation from the field to machine control. Design engineers and developers are able to combine products from different manufacturers in their automation systems due to the clearly defined interfaces.
"The FDT Group's collaboration with SERCOS offers users the greatest possible transparency and freedom of choice," stresses Flavio Tolfo, Managing Director of the FDT Group, which is based in Belgium. "The combination of these two open standards, supported by many manufacturers, reduces start-up times and increases the security of investments."
"The collaboration agreement extends the range of SERCOS III applications beyond drive communication," according to Peter Lutz, Managing Director of SERCOS International e.V. "The FDT/DTM specification is another important step on the way to making SERCOS III a universal real-time network for all automation applications."
About SERCOS International
SERCOS International (SI) is the user organization responsible for the technical development, standardization, certification and commercialization of the SERCOS interface real time communication standard. SI offers conformance testing to help ensure that products built to its specifications operate in multi-vendor systems. The organization, headquartered in Germany, presently has more than 70 member companies all over the world as well as subsidiary trade associations in North America and Asia.
For additional information visit www.sercos.org or www.sercos.com.
About the FDT Group AISBL(TM)
The FDT Group AISBL is a non-profit corporation consisting of over 70 leading worldwide companies active in process and factory automation. The major purpose of the FDT Group is to provide an open and non-proprietary interface for the integration of field devices with engineering, automation and asset management systems. In this environment, end users, manufacturers, universities and research organizations are working together to develop the technology; provide development tools, support and training; coordinate field trials and demonstrations; and enable product interoperability.
For additional information please visit www.fdtgroup.org
