HART 7 Released with WirelessHART Standard

The first open wireless communication standard for process measurement and control was approved and released Sept. 7 as part of the HART 7 standard, according to the source, HART Communication Foundation (HCF) Other improvements include advanced, exception-based reporting; time-stamped data; and better diagnostics. Related products are expected in first quarter 2008, a bit later for those requiring certifications. HART 5 and HART 6 devices will work with HART 7.

The HART 7 Specifications enable many new capabilities for communication with intelligent field devices, including WirelessHART. HCF says WirelessHART technology addresses the critical needs of the process industry for simple, reliable and secure wireless communication in the real-world industrial plant environment, and is fully backward compatible with existing instrumentation and host systems, preserving the investment in HART-enabled devices, tools, training, applications and work procedures used today

“With official release of the HART 7 Specifications,” says Ron Helson, HCF executive director, “the WirelessHART standard is now publicly available, and manufacturers can begin implementing this new capability into their products and process solutions. I expect that products complying with this new standard will be available from multiple manufacturers in early 2008.”

Significant advantages

The new HART 7 Specifications has other significant advantages beyond wireless capabilities, says Ed Ladd, HCF director of technology programs:

* New advanced, condition-based reporting, on exception, so you can set up a device to report a problem before you have to ask for info

* Time-stamped data, synchronized over the network.

* Command 48, which provides eight status bits for additional information, configuration change, showing what circuit failed rather than just saying there’s a problem.

* Multiple messages in one transmission, optimizing the network for wireless operation, conserving batteries.

Source: Control Engineering US