Automation Institute Demonstrates ISA100.11a Wireless Prototype

Richmond, VA (Mar. 31)-One step closer to finalization, the ISA 100 Wireless Compliance Institute presented a live demonstration of a prototype of the ISA 1001.11a wireless standard-based products at the 2008 Wireless Conference in Chongquing, China. The demonstration included field devices from General Electric, Honeywell, and Nivis. The institute plans to expand the demonstration to include additional vendors.

The prototype used ISA.11a technologies based on the developing ISA 100.11a standard. The application was a tank-gauging solution in which two tanks were alternatively filled and emptied, providing monitoring and control with wireless technology. The application is common across several industries, including pharmaceutical manufacturing. Using wireless technology “viewed many variables located in each of the field devices,” according to a press release. 

Andre Ristaino, managing director of the Automation Standards Compliance Institute, said, “The demonstration is the basis of our alpha test bed for the ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute.” According to Ristaino, the design of the standard is “nearly done.” “Our discoveries from this effort will be used to further solidify the technology and ensure that users get a very robust standard.”

The field devices deployed mesh routing and nonrouting technologies within one network. Dan Sexton of GE said the demonstration is “the first of its kind in demonstrating multiple vendors’ products using a wireless standard for industrial usage.”