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FieldComm Group announces availability of FDI specification and developer tools

The FieldComm Group has announced that the FDI Cooperation, LLC’s Field Device Integration (FDI) specification, developer tools and common host components are now available for automation suppliers to develop products and host systems compatible with FDI. 

The FDI specification is publicly released and made available through the FieldComm Group. It was submitted to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for final approval in the international standardization process and will be included in the emerging standard IEC 62769 which is expected to be approved Q1 2015.

The FieldComm Group, an organization formed through the combing of two founding members of the FDI Cooperation, LLC – the Fieldbus Foundation and HART Communication Foundation – will deliver and support the FDI related products for FOUNDATION Fieldbus, HART and PROFIBUS effective 16 February, 2015.

At the core of the FDI specification is the FDI Device Package that includes everything a host system needs to integrate an intelligent device.

With FDI, a single FDI Device Package that can scale according to the complexities and requirements of each device makes it easier for automation suppliers to develop and integrate device information and configurations across a wide range of host systems and protocols.

With the release of the FDI specification, developer tools and host components, FieldComm Group now offers the support for the development of FDI based devices and host systems.

Developers may now implement and test FDI Device Packages using the FDI Integrated Development Environment (IDE), which will help device manufacturers create FDI Device Packages for FOUNDATION fieldbus, HART and PROFIBUS devices.

Host system manufacturers may also now implement FDI Host Components for host systems such as device management tools, asset management tools, or process automation systems. 

FDI Host Components allow for rapid development and ensure FDI Device Packages behave consistently across different systems. FDI Host Components fully support the new unified EDD file format for FOUNDATION Fieldbus, HART and PROFIBUS devices as well as existing FOUNDATION Fieldbus and HART EDDs to protect end user investments.

The FDI specification, developer tools and host components for FOUNDATION Fieldbus, HART and PROFIBUS will be available through the FieldComm Group at www.fieldcommgroup.org.

About FDI Cooperation
The five major automation foundations, including the FDT Group, Fieldbus Foundation, HART Communication Foundation, Profibus & Profinet International, and OPC Foundation have developed a single common solution for Field Device Integration (FDI). These foundations have combined their efforts to form a joint company named FDI Cooperation, LLC (a limited liability company under US law). FDI Cooperation, LLC is headed by a “Board of Managers”, which is composed of the representatives of the involved organizations, as well as managers of global automation suppliers including ABB, Emerson, Endress+Hauser, Honeywell, Schneider Electric, Siemens and Yokogawa. FDI Cooperation LLC marks an unprecedented level of cooperation among suppliers and foundations to achieve a single integration technology for the benefit of end users. FDI’s mandate is to develop a single technology for the management of information that comes from all intelligent devices throughout all areas of the plant.

[Image courtesy FieldComm Group]

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