Fieldbus Foundation

Overview

The Fieldbus Foundation was a non-profit trade organization established in September 1994. Its primary goal was to develop and promote a single international, interoperable fieldbus standard for digital communication in process control and manufacturing automation.

History

The organization was formed through the merger of WorldFIP North America and the Interoperable Systems Project (ISP). At its peak, the Fieldbus Foundation consisted of more than 350 member companies, including suppliers and end users from across the globe. These members contributed significantly to the development of fieldbus standards, aligning with international guidelines such as IEC/ISA/FDI.

Mission and Achievements

The mission of the Fieldbus Foundation was to advance digital communication standards in automation. It focused on creating open, non-proprietary specifications, known as Foundation Fieldbus, designed to support mission-critical control applications. Key milestones included the completion of H1 draft specifications in May 1995, the registration of the first H1 fieldbus products in September 1998, and the introduction of High Speed Ethernet (HSE) specifications in September 1999.

Technology

Foundation Fieldbus provided an all-digital communication infrastructure for process automation, known for its powerful multivariable measurement capabilities and robust device diagnostics. It enabled true distributed functionality, allowing multiple devices to share the same bus. This technology facilitated control-in-the-field strategies, ensuring continued operation even during host system failures.

Merger and Legacy

In January 2015, the Fieldbus Foundation merged with the HART Communication Foundation to form the FieldComm Group. This new organization continues to develop and promote communication technologies, including FOUNDATION Fieldbus, HART, and Field Device Integration (FDI).

The Fieldbus Foundation's work laid the groundwork for modern process automation and the integration of digital devices in industrial settings. Its legacy continues through the FieldComm Group, which drives digital transformation in process industries worldwide.