WirelessHART specification released for approval

April 17, 2007
New technology establishes wireless communication standard for process industry applications.

Austin TX USA – 17 April 2007 – The HART Communication Foundation (HCF) has announced the completion of draft specifications for WirelessHART Communication and their release to HCF member companies for review and approval. WirelessHART is the first open and interoperable wireless communication standard designed to address the critical needs of the process industry for reliable, robust and secure wireless communication in real world industrial plant applications.

“The combination of HART plus wireless is a major step for the industry," says Ron Helson, HCF Executive Director. "WirelessHART provides new capabilities for users to get information on process parameters and to monitor the performance of plant assets in areas that have previously been technically or cost-effectively difficult to achieve. WirelessHART ushers in the next major technology life cycle and makes possible the next generation of HART-enabled productivity solutions.”

A backward compatible extension to the HART Protocol, WirelessHART provides the functions and capabilities users expect from HART-enabled products, complementing, but not replacing wired HART.

The WirelessHART specifications support the entire range of HART-enabled measurement, control and automation systems products. Approved specifications reportedly will be available late summer with products expected early 2008.