Gary Mintchell's Feed Forward

Here's another example of using wireless sensor networks to easily implement data gathering. IBM's Systems Director Active Energy Manager (AEM) will support Arch Rock's PhyNet IP (Internet protocol)-based wireless sensor network technology to monitor and manage energy usage in corporate data centers. The integrated products, now available, will transmit a set of power and thermal data gathered by strategically-placed Arch Rock wireless sensors. The data will be displayed on the AEM Web interface, presenting users with a comprehensive view of their data centers' energy consumption and environmental health.

Arch Rock's IP-based PhyNet platform implements a tiered, scalable wireless sensor network architecture that includes what Arch Rock calls "the first WSN router," interconnecting IETF 6LoWPAN wireless mesh networks with IPv4 or IPv6 enterprise networks.


I knew it would happen, and here it is already. While some moan about the fact that ISA rejected the existing WirelessHart standard as it adopted its ISA100.11a standard (still awaiting ANSI acceptance the last I heard), I knew that this was just an opportunity for networking companies to build interoperable devices that would help end users implement the systems they wanted.

So, Apprion has announced a new version of its IONizer industrial wireless networking appliance that seamlessly integrates wireless sensor network gateways based on either ISA100.11a or WirelessHart standards with 802.11 (WiFi) radios to support other industrial wireless applications such as mobility, location, video, and communications and to enable efficient backhaul of sensor data wirelessly.

"Without standards like ISA100 and WirelessHart, creating scalable applications based on wireless sensor networks would create islands of automation that would never deliver their full potential value," said Doug Donzelli, Apprion's President and CEO. “The only way wireless applications get traction in the industrial world is through the adoption of appropriate standards and the integration of those standards through platforms like our ION System that allow these wireless sensor networks to deliver data to the full range of operational, safety, and security applications."

As Apprion describes its system: IONizers supporting ISA100 and WirelessHart wireless sensor networks are integrated with the Apprion IONosphere as part of Apprion’s ION System. This integration allows transmission of real-time sensor data from devices instrumented with ISA100 or WirelessHart sensors to the ION Condition Monitoring application. Combine the ION Condition Monitoring application with other ION applications such as ION Video and/or ION Asset Tracking to create operational dashboards customized to each individual’s role in the plant. Integrate ION Applications with other applications to provide manufacturing facilities with a single, customizable interface that uniquely meets the application requirements for safety, security, engineering, logistics, and maintenance personnel.

As the two wireless sensor networks gain traction, expect other suppliers to release products designed to get them to work together at some level.

NAMUR, an international user association of 121 member companies in the chemical/pharmaceutical processing industry, confirms that WirelessHart technology meets the requirements for wireless sensor networks in process applications. After conducting an extensive multi-vendor field test, NAMUR reports that WirelessHart Communication provides the flexibility, security, robust performance, coexistence with other radio technologies and device interoperability within a WirelessHART network that its members should expect.

The NAMUR field test used WirelessHart products from ABB, Emerson Process Management, Endress+Hauser, MACTek, Pepperl+Fuchs and Siemens to evaluate and verify WirelessHart compliance with NAMUR Recommendation NE124, "Requirements for Wireless Automation" and NAMUR Working Document NA115, "IT Security for Process Automation Systems." The field test conducted at the BASF facility in Ludwigshafen, Germany, included laboratory evaluation of performance characteristics and several implementations in operating process plant environments.

"Our tests prove that WirelessHart is an appropriate technology for applications within the NAMUR use class 'Monitoring' for wireless sensor networks," reports Martin Schwibach, Senior Automation Manager for BASF and Chairman of the NAMUR AK4.15 Wireless Automation Working Group responsible for the field test. "WirelessHart technology provides a good alternative where wired networks are too expensive or too difficult to install. This field test verified the alignment of the WirelessHart standard with the NAMUR requirements for wireless automation in process applications."

"We are delighted that the NAMUR field test showed WirelessHart meets user needs," says Hart Communication Foundation Executive Director Ron Helson. "Other user installations have also proven the capabilities of WirelessHart, a technology designed specifically for process applications that builds on experience gained with millions of wired Hart devices installed around the world. We look forward to working with NAMUR and others to continue improving the technology and extend its benefits to even more users worldwide."