Start of the NAMUR WirelessHART field test

Wireless HART – "One single" standard for wireless process measurement and control devices? To answer this question, NAMUR has started a technological study for wireless sensor networks. A first step of this study is a field test with WirelessHART-compliant devices at BASF's Ludwigshafen site. At the beginning of this test, different manufacturers which will include these new standard WirelessHART products in their portfolio were invited to a Kick-Off Meeting. The WirelessHART field will offer manufacturers like ABB, Emerson, Endress+Hauser, MacTek, Pepperl+Fuchs and Siemens, a platform for demonstrating the performance of their equipment. In addition to the manufacturers, the HART Communication Foundation will also support the test.

With this manufacturer-independent field test, the requirements defined in NAMUR recommendation NE124 "Requirements for Wireless Automation" for wireless technologies are to be reflected with the specifications of the WirelessHART standard. The test consists of a laboratory phase in which the different performance characteristics are to be tested, and several implementations in production plants at BASF's Ludwigshafen site.

The laboratory tests focus on the interoperability, usability and response time behavior of WirelessHART compliant devices. In addition, questions regarding coexistence with other radio standards will be evaluated.

The objective of the prototype applications in production plants is the validation of laboratory results in the industrial environment as well as a "proof of concept" for the new wireless standard.
The results of the field tests will be available early in the fourth quarter of 2009.

In this context the NAMUR study represents a catalyst for both manufacturers and standardisation bodies to prepare the ground for a joint and unique IEC standard for wireless sensor networks. Such a uniform wireless standard will help both manufacturers and end users to implement these promising wireless applications quickly and sustainably, raising the great potential of this new technology. The NAMUR technological study is not limited to the WirelessHART standard. The intention is to counteract the emerging competition between the different standards at an early stage and to combine the advantages of the current WirelessHART and ISA SP100 initiatives.

For further Information:

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