FDT Group announced that its emerging FDT IIoT Server (FITS)-based specification has been released for FDT member review. According to FDT, the FITS architecture is meant to empower the intelligent enterprise with native integration of the OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA), as well as comprehensive control and web services for secure mobile, cloud, fog and enterprise-wide applications in the process, hybrid and discrete automation sectors.
"The emerging FITS architecture built off the trusted FDT technology is the 'game-changer' the automation industry has been anticipating," said Glenn Schulz, FDT Group Managing Director. "Designed to empower IIoT and Industry 4.0, and leverage the recent release of FDT 2.1, the FDT IIoT solution is built surrounding a core FDT Server, which serves as a broker for wide range of client/server interactions, whereby communication between key components is standardized for its’ Control, OPC UA and Web Services interfaces."
An FDT FITS Server hopes to simplify entry into the IIoT marketplace as the only standardized integration architecture providing a single interface with mobile access cloud-to-plant-floor. FITS features layered security leveraging vetted industry standards, and uses transport layer security (TLS) to establish a hardened shell and encrypt all communications. Optionally, it can authorize devices that connect to the FDT FITS Server. User-based security is employed to determine the user’s role and rights within the application.
"Release of the FITS specification for member review is a major milestone in the development process as we prepare for release to the public in the fourth quarter of 2018," Schulz said. "Hundreds of people and work-hours have been pinned to all aspects of the FITS architecture, and we are thrilled with the progress and innovative advancement it will deliver for both manufacturers and end users across the automation spectrum."
The final standard will be delivered as three documents: the FDT 2.5 specification, which builds on FDT 2.1 to include the HTML5 and JavaScript graphical user interface features; the FITS Web Services Technical specification, which describes the Web Services interfaces and requirements for an FDT Server; and the OPC UA annex detailing the OPC UA server mapping for an FDT Server.
To fully support and accelerate adoption of the new architecture into the marketplace, a comprehensive development solution comprised of Common Components will be delivered together with the release of the FITS specification. Common Components create a library of FDT routines and will simplify compliant development of FITS-based solutions such as Servers, DTMs and APPs.
