Home » EDDL: The Feldbus War that won't go away

EDDL: The Feldbus War that won't go away

07/25/2005

Fieldbus guru Dick Caro on EDDL:

“At one time, there was a need for FDT/DTM, but that time has passed. EDDL [Enhanced Device Description Language –ed.] is a superior solution. There is nothing simple about FDT/DTM. It is a very complex implementation that is based on ActiveX objects, with all of the hazards that entails. EDDL is implemented as a text-based (actually an XML file) database resident on the field device, or downloadable from the internet or a CD. The HMI or engineering workstation interprets the EDDs of the device and uses this to form the visual display consistent with the host system or DCS. In real-time, the same EDD-defined data tags are used for the transfer of data.

“However, the end user considerations are paramount. Emerson's view is that a consistent HMI view of field devices as determined by the DCS/HMI supplier is better for the end user. The FDT viewpoint is that the field device manufacturer is better qualified to configure the HMI view of their devices. I agree with Emerson on that point.

“Emerson also asserts that EDDL is needed for real-time device access anyway, so why is another method needed for engineering use only during device configuration? Good question!

“Bottom line. Emerson is not going to support FDT/DTM on Rosemount instruments and Fisher valves unless they lose market share. I don't think that FDT/DTM has any end user features to cause a buyer to reject Rosemount/ Fisher in favor of some other instrument supplier that does support FDT/DTM.

“My market analysis is that FDT/DTM, while being a fine technology, is doomed.”

More News:

05/22/2013 Great Moments in Process Automation History
Take a broken soda fountain machine, a car a.c. unit, flavor mixes, water and CO2, add inventiveness; you get America’s favorite frozen drink.
05/22/2013 Smart Grid: Independent Testing Of Rossi's E-Cat Cold Fusion Device Shows Positive Results
Forbes magazine's tech contributor Mark Gibbs writes that independent testing of Andrea Rossi's E-CAT Cold Fusion Reactor has positive results.The implications of the possible commercialization of cold fusion power sources are incredible.
05/21/2013 Compressor Controls: Saudi Aramco Buys First GE Compressor Control Systems
Saudi Aramco has purchased advanced compressor control technology from GE for the Haradh GOSP-1 facility in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province.
05/21/2013 SANS Control Security Training Coming to Houston
SANS Institute will hold ICS Security Training event on June 10-15 in Houston
05/21/2013 ISA Training Through June in Houston
Technician training, engineering survival and SIS boot camps for condensed, intense, comprehensive educational experience.
05/20/2013 Past Time to Upgrade Your DCS?
Upgrading Your DCS: Why You May Need to Do It Sooner Than You Think
05/20/2013 Metso Provides New Heating Solution for Finnish Utility
Finland's largest pellet-fired heating plant produces environmentally friendly energy in Tampere
05/20/2013 NIST Releases Initial Cyber Security Framework Comment Analysis
The National Institute for Standards and Technology has released an initial analysis of the hundreds of comments by industry and the public they have received on the Obama Administration's "Improving Critical Infrastructure Cyber Security" executive order.
05/20/2013 K-BIM Consortium Selects Siemens' Parasolid for New AEC Applications
-BIM, a consortium of commercial, academic and government organizations wants the new application suite to help create a national standard for building information management (BIM)
05/17/2013 Friday p.m. Wrap-Up:This Week on ControlGlobal and Elsewhere
Some of the week's biggest stories in process automation
All news »

EDDL: The Feldbus War that won't go away

More News:

Sponsored Links

Control Digital Edition

ControlGlobal.com E-Newsletters