Manufacturer-Independent Device Configuration
INTERBUS Club Supports FDT Technology

Over the years, components that are used at field level through to the automation of machines and systems have become even more intelligent. The parameterization, diagnostic, monitoring, and management functions are often mapped to software. This means that planning and startup engineers have to be familiar with numerous and often expensive tools and they require maintenance, which costs time and money.

In the framework of this discussion, it is understandable that machine and system builders as well as end users are demanding a standardized software interface for integrating device user interfaces into various engineering systems. Therefore, back in 1998 various automation manufacturers started work on a corresponding specification. Since then the FDT Group has become an organization, whose members include numerous well-known companies, and which is supported by user groups such as the INTERBUS Club.

Important Components and Method of Operation

FDT stands for Field Device Tool and is not a new description language, but rather a communication technology based on XML and COM for the manufacturer-independent configuration and control of field devices. The technology comprises two main components: the DTM and the actual framework application, which can be an engineering system.

The Device Type Manager (DTM) is the parameterization interface that the device manufacturer develops for intelligent components and supplies together with the device. Then there are communication DTMs and gateway DTMs for communication between the device DTM and the device. The main difference compared to the design of standard tools is that the actual user interface and the communication components are separate. This technology means that ultimately the device can use any network to communicate with the engineering system, as it simply has to start the corresponding communication DTM. Gateway DTMs are used to communicate over network boundaries. They "translate" the communication from network type A to network type B.

The user loads the DTM in the FDT-compatible framework application, e.g., an engineering system. The device DTM now communicates with the field device via communication DTMs provided by various manufacturers. In order to enable the uniform operation of DTMs, a style guide has been defined for creating DTM user interfaces.

Advantages for Manufacturers and Users

Open FDT technology, which is currently used in more than a thousand systems in various sectors of industry, offers economic advantages for manufacturers and users, as both the time and money required for engineering, installation, startup, operation, and maintenance are reduced:

• Protection of investments in existing device user interfaces for the manufacturer thanks to the various options for adapting FDT.
• Fieldbus-independent, as FDT supports numerous transmission protocols such as INTERBUS, Profibus, Hart, Foundation Fieldbus, and soon Profinet, as well as the free selection of the components to be used.
• Central, easy parameterization of intelligent field devices through integration in the engineering system.
• Central data recording in the engineering system so that various parameters can be managed more easily.
• Standard operating procedures such as diagnostics, monitoring or configuration are already defined and can be transferred from the engineering system to the relevant integrated device user interface.

Current Product Range

At the end of 2005 there were more than 800 DTMs plus ten framework applications available with FDT interfaces – and the number keeps growing. The compatibility of the various device user interfaces with the engineering systems is ensured by four certification laboratories. In addition, IEC standardization has been applied for for this technology. As FDT/DTM enables the easy integration of device user interfaces for simple through to complex devices from various manufacturers into automation solutions, regardless of the network used, and thus meets the requirements placed on tool integration, this technology is supported by the INTERBUS Club.