China adopts FDT 2.0 global device integration technology as national standard

Jan. 10, 2018
The updated FDT standard aims to support intelligent enterprises in the age of IIoT and Industry 4.0

FDT Group announced that a cooperative initiative undertaken by China’s National TC124 On Industrial Process Measurement, Control and Automation of SAC (TC124/SAC); Instrumentation Technology and Economy Institute, P.R. China; China Instrument Manufacturer Association (CIMA); Southwest University; and the FDT Professional Committee has resulted in a national standard for device integration based on FDT 2.0 technology.

The Chinese GB/T 29618-2017 Field Device Tool (FDT) Interface Specification incorporates enhancements by the FDT Group, an international non-profit corporation dedicated to providing an open standard for industrial enterprise-wide network and asset integration. The updated standard was announced at a joint organizational meeting in Nov. 2017 in Beijing, China.

The FDT 2.0 specification is based on Microsoft .NET technology. According to FDT Group, release of the GB/T 29618-2017 standard incorporating FDT 2.0 will better guide the integration and application of various field buses and devices and help promote the widespread implementation of standards-based automation solutions.

"The purpose of our ongoing efforts is to enable the effective implementation of advanced industrial standards while promoting social and economic development within China," Tian Zhaoying, vice director of the 2nd Industry Department, Standardization Administration, People's Republic of China (SAP) said. "The Chinese FDT Professional Committee and ITEI actively assisted the development of FDT so this advanced technology could be widely implemented by our country's manufacturing community."

"There is growing demand for FDT-enabled solutions employing FDT 2.0 technology in developing industrial markets around the world," FDT Group Managing Director Glenn Schulz said. "Based on robust .NET technology, the FDT 2.0 standard maintains proven FDT heritage, but includes numerous performance enhancements while ensuring backward compatibility with our existing installed base."