FDT Group, an independent, international, not-for-profit standards association supporting FDT technology (IEC 62453), announced that its emerging FDT IIoT Server, FITS-based specification has been released for FDT member review.

The FITS architecture has a goal to empower the intelligent enterprise with native integration of the OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA), as well as comprehensive control and web services for secure mobile, cloud, fog and enterprise-wide applications for process, hybrid and discrete automation.

Standardised communication

FDT was founded to set the stage for open, standardized integration for bi-lateral communication and access to asset analytics across the industrial enterprise. Today, it is a de-facto control system and device integration standard, adopted in millions of installations worldwide. The holistic nature of FDT has allowed the standard to evolve to become “timeless” in supporting next-generation automation solutions demanded by the fourth industrial era (Industry 4.0), which is poised to transform the connected world of automation.

Industry-driven feedback has been the basis for the growth of FDT technology since the release of the original Version 1.2 specification in May 2001. The recent release of the FDT 2.1 standard builds on the success of FDT 2.0, issued in April 2012, with a robust combination of features, including improved security, faster performance, ease of use, and investment protection. These progressive efforts underscore FDT’s transformation as a complete, standardized Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) architecture enabling sensor-to-cloud, enterprise-wide connectivity for the new era of automation.

“The emerging FITS architecture built off the trusted FDT technology is the ‘game-changer’ the automation industry has been anticipating,” said Glenn Schulz, FDT Group Managing Director. “Designed to empower IIoT and Industry 4.0, and leverage the recent release of FDT 2.1, the FDT IIoT solution is built surrounding a core FDT Server, which serves as a broker for wide range of client/server interactions, whereby communication between key components is standardized for its Control, OPC UA and Web Services interfaces.”

FDT FITS Server

Because of the security, scalability and the ease of deployment of an FDT FITS Server, the solution will simplify entry into the IIoT marketplace as the only standardized integration architecture providing a single interface with mobile access cloud-to-plant-floor. FITS features robust layered security leveraging vetted industry standards, and utilizes transport layer security (TLS) to establish a hardened shell and encrypt all communications. Optionally, it can authorize devices that connect to the FDT FITS Server. User-based security is employed to determine the user’s role and rights within the application.

“Release of the FITS specification for member review is a major milestone in the development process as we prepare for release to the public in the fourth quarter of 2018,” Schulz said. “Hundreds of people and work-hours have been pinned to all aspects of the FITS architecture, and we are thrilled with the progress and innovative advancement it will deliver for both manufacturers and end users across the automation spectrum.”

The final standard will be delivered as three documents: the FDT 2.5 specification, which builds on FDT 2.1 to include the HTML5 and JavaScript graphical user interface features; the FITS Web Services Technical specification, which describes the Web Services interfaces and requirements for an FDT Server; and the OPC UA annex detailing the OPC UA server mapping for an FDT Server.

Developers interested in implementing FITS are encouraged to join the FDT Group. To fully support and accelerate adoption of the new architecture into the marketplace, a comprehensive development solution comprised of Common Components will be delivered together with the release of the FITS specification. Common Components create a library of FDT routines and will simplify compliant development of FITS-based solutions such as Servers, DTMs and APPs.

Integration of OPC UA server

One of the most interesting technical developments with FITS architecture is the integration of an OPC UA Server. The FDT Group and the OPC Foundation jointly authored this capability.

According to Lee Lane, FDT Group Chairman of the Board of Directors, “unlike patchwork solutions that try to get access to some device information through OPC UA, the FITS architecture allows all devices on all networks to be accessed through the FITS Server. Due to the very scalable FDT architecture, this capability requires no special configuration by the end user. It is simply there and it works. Any OPC UA client that has the correct security profile can browse the entire project structure and access any information available from the FITS Server. That is a real game changer.”

News report by FDT Group