CONNECTING THE WORLD OF PROCESS AUTOMATION
Leading the Digital Transformation
Manufacturers are using digital advances such as analytics
and smart embedded devices to improve their use of traditional
technologies and enhance customer relationships, internal
processes, and value propositions. Industrial systems thatinterface the digital world to the physical world through sensors
and actuators are commonly known as cyber-physical systems.
These systems solve complex control problems and whencombined with “Big Data” solutions, provide deeper insight
into the data and analytics.

the field device network. This digital transformation will help

A Global Open Network Standard

HART is the most used digital communications technology

industrial organizations transition from reactive to predictive

Proprietary protocols were eliminated years ago and for many

deployed in the process automation industry, with an estimatedmaintenance and optimize asset management strategies toreasons. Devices today are able to integrate with intelligent asset

40+ million installed field instruments worldwide. For nearly 25

improve operations and reduce costs.

management, control, safety, SCADA, ERP and other enterpriseyears the HART Protocol has delivered value to the bottom line.

applications, in an open, interoperable way.

From device setup and commissioning, to device diagnostics

HART Technology and the IIoT
HART technology has been driving the digital transformation for
more than two decades by making plant operations smarter. It isembedded in millions of intelligent devices and systems and has
enabled end users to make better and faster decisions, increase
productivity, reduce costs, and minimize risk while raising

Current developments such as the Industrial Internet of Things

the level of awareness of plant operations from instrument(IIoT) and Industrie 4.0 are focused on digital transformation oftechnicians all the way to executive oﬃcers.

HART technology has been an open standard since 1990 (an IEC
standard since 2006). An open standard eliminates single vendor
dependency and allows the use of “best-in-class” solutions frommultiple suppliers. End users can choose the best available

and troubleshooting, users have experienced the many benefitsof getting connected to the smart information in their everincreasing intelligent measurement devices. A reported 75% ofusers rely on HART technology to save time and money.

instruments for their application and replace them as needed.
HART is the global standard that is:
low cost and low riskeasy to install and use

Corporate

Connected Value
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Business Units

Supplier

Connected EnterpriseConnected Networks

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and wireless
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Connected ThingsŰTTCPUOKVVGTU
Ű.KSWKFCPFICUCPCN[zersŰ/QtQTUCPFRWORUŰ%QPVrol valvesvaluable in all phases of the plant and device life cycle
supported by all leading instrumentation suppliers

Number of installed
HART devices

Connected Applications
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64% say training

is main challenge
to device integration *Storage

Remote Assets

Production
69% use digital

data for more thanEQPƒIWTCVKQn *Industrial Plant

Delivery

51% use or plan
to use Wireless *50% use FOUNDATION
real-time for alerts *HART User Groupuse HART
real-time for alerts *Field Devices*Control Magazine user survey, August, 2016

2

HART Test Specs

HART Server

HART 6

HART 7
WirelessHART

WirelessHART IEC Standard

HART-IP

HART Host Test

HART - Leading the Digital Transformation

3

HART - EXPANDING THE POSSIBILITIESFrom Wired to Wireless to Ethernet - HART Expands the Possibilities

How It Works

Regardless of the application type (new construction or an upgrade), age of the system or the type of process, HART offers a wide

The HART Communication Protocol provides two-way

variety of solutions – wired, wireless or IP-enabled! Today’s business environment requires maximizing the installed assets in allcommunication between intelligent field instruments andphases of the plant life cycle. Working together, these solutions enable a digital transformation that delivers the right information tohost systems. HART supports a wide range of hosts from a

the right place at the right time so that informed decisions can be made and appropriate actions taken.

technician’s hand-held configurator to a plant’s process control,

Two-way communication enables access to a wealth of device

asset management, safety and SCADA systems or cloud-based
data historian applications.

WIRELESSA WirelessHART device canbe installed anywhere in theplant, significantly reducing
the cost of engineering,
cabling and installation.

WIRED
HART Communication isbuilt on the industry standard 4-20mA signal which is
the most widely used communication method.

IP-ENABLED
HART-IP allows host systems to access measurement information from
HART-enabled field devices
using existing IP networks.

In traditional 4-20mA installations, HART technology provides
two simultaneous communication channels: one analog and theother digital.

channels provide a complete field communications solution thatis easy to design, simple to use, low cost and extremely reliable.
Acyclic and Cyclic Communications
HART Protocol supports both acyclic and cyclic communica-a request.

Analog 4-20mA

HART- enabled I/O

HART also supports cyclic publishing of runtime data and device
status. This allows multiple hosts to continuously acquire digital

I/O to Device

process values. HART supports smart data publishing where

The 4-20mA signal powers the device and communicates thedata can be published when, for example, the values exceed aPrimary Variable (measurement value or setpoint) as an analog

setpoint or the value is changing quickly. Smart data publishingvalue. The 4-20mA signal is then converted to a numeric value

enables eﬃcient use of communication resources.

example, a measurement of 7mA = 80 degrees F or a setpoint ofControl System or Other
Host Application

Handheld Terminal(Primary Host)(Secondary / Temporary Host)

12mA = 50% open.

WirelessHART
Gateway

The two-way digital communication channel utilizes an audio
20 mA -

DigitalSignalWirelessHARTHART technology provides benefits to both the user and the supplier:
Based on industry standard 4-20mA signal

Interoperability makes device replacement fast and easy

Simultaneous analog and digital communication

Smart devices can be configured for a specific application

Easy to configure and troubleshoot without special tools

Reduces the amount of replacement inventory

Wired, wireless and Ethernet communication options

Uses standard wiring and wiring practices

“1”

“1”
“0” “0”“1” “0”encodes andinformation, using
a technique known

Time

put
utt
Input/Output(I/O) System

the digital device
AnalogSignal

4 mA -

Multidrop

signal that
communicates“0”“1” “1”

Digital over Analog

4loop itself to be monitored. Together, the two communication

the smart field device responds to the host only when it receives
H AR T D IG IT AL D AT A

based on the configured Upper and Lower Range settings. For

Wired HART

also allows the integrity and accuracy of the 4-20mA current

cess-on-demand to all device information. For acyclic operation,

1 2 mA

Host System

Remote I/Ostatus, diagnostics and device parameters. This communication

tions. Acyclic request-response communication enables ac-Intelligent
HART Device

Controller/PLC

information including multiple digital process values, device

as Frequency Shift
Keying.

Field Devices

HART can operate in several modes – analog plus digital,
all digital or multidrop mode allowing multiple device to beconnected on a single pair of wires.

5WirelessHART - SIMPLE. RELIABLE. SECURE.
WirelessHART is a highly reliable, easy to deploy wireless communication protocol for process automation applications. It adds wirelessBenefits and Applications

capabilities to HART technology while maintaining compatibility with existing HART devices, commands and tools. WirelessHARTThere are many benefits to using WirelessHART technology:

uses license-free 2.4GHz communication band, IEEE 802.15.4 standard and mesh networking technology, which means eachdevice serves as a router for messages to/from other devices. This extends the range and geographic coverage of theLower cost and reduced engineering time when adding new measurements

HART Device +WirelessHART Adapter

Host Application

E.
SIM

PL

diﬃcult radio environment found in some process facilities.

.
RE
CU
SE

network and provides redundant communication routes to increase reliability to 99.99% (4 Sigma) even in a(e.g. Asset Management)
4-20 mA

Network Manager

Access
A
Ac
cce
ces
ce
ss
ss
Point

Connections
HART-IP
ModbusEthernet& moreRELIABLE.

Non-HART Device +WirelessHART Adapter

SIMPLE.

WirelessHART
DevicesAccess to remote and diﬃcult to reach process areas
Improve plant reliability by monitoring the health of critical devices, reducing unplanned shutdowns
WirelessHART technology is field proven worldwide, with an estimated 20,000+ networks operating inboth new and existing plants. It is low-risk, low-cost, interoperable and uses the same tools and skills as
wired HART. WirelessHART provides a cost-effective solution for integrating additional measurements incontrol systems that are near capacity.
WirelessHART technology opens the door for enhanced performance of a process plant and increased
productivity by providing plant transparency through:Easy network and device setup

WirelessHART
Wireless
Gateway

Process Automation
Controller

Self-organizing adaptable mesh network

Access
Acce
Ac
ces
ce
ss
ss
Point

Security Manager

WirelessHART
Adapter

Coexistence with other wireless networks

Process monitoring and control including remote locations and pipelines
Asset management via remote access for all phases of the device life-cycle
Temporary measurements for testing and troubleshooting

RELIABLE.
Three device categories are used in a WirelessHART mesh network:

HART All-Digital Multidrop Mode

Channel hopping to avoid interference
Time-synchronized communication
Redundant self-healing network

WirelessHART Gateway

WirelessHART Adapter

WirelessHART Device• Contains an access point, network• Allows a wired HART device to• Standard device with wirelessmanager and security manager

communicate wirelessly• Interoperable with all HART devices• Attaches to a device or taps

and systems

anywhere on the 4-20mA current loop

• System integration via HART-IP,• One adapter for multiple wired devices

Modbus RTU/TCP and others

reduces project and installation costs

6communication• Smart reporting for long battery life
• Battery, line, loop or energy harvesting
power options

SECURE.
Robust, multi-tiered, always-on security
Device authentication and passwords
Standard AES128 bit data encryption

7

HART-IP - HART AT THE SPEED OF ETHERNET
Ethernet networks have been pervasive in oﬃce environments

HART-IP is a simple-to-use, high-level application technology that

Since the application layer is the same for HART field devices asfor decades, but in process facilities 2-wire, 4-20mA wiring has

is independent of the underlying media, thus HART-IP operates

HART-IP, time consuming and error-prone data mapping required

been the norm. Slowly, Ethernet and IP networks are growing

with Ethernet media as well as mesh or ring topologies. Similarly,

by MODBUS RTU is eliminated. Using a simple HART command,

towards the process plant floor. To address this growth HART-IP,

HART-IP can run on Power over Ethernet (PoE) for such infra-

HART-IP delivers all requested smart device information - not justan Internet protocol (IP) enabled version of HART, was developed.

structure and devices. Speeds of 10 Mbit/s, 100 Mbit/s, and

the Primary Variable. This makes HART-IP the most simple to

1 Gbit/s are supported.

use and suitable backhaul network for WirelessHART gateways,

HART-IP gives enterprise level systems and applications accesswired HART multiplexers, remote I/O and native HART-IP field

and integration of runtime measurement and device diagnostics
information from HART devices through existing plant IP
networks using Ethernet, Wi-Fi, fiber optic, packet-radio, satellite
or 3G/4G cellular.

devices.

HART-IP enables remote access todevice and process information for
IIoT Initiatives

HART-IP Architecture
HART-IP uses a conventional client-server architecture. A client
can be either a host system or a host application while servers can be WirelessHART gateways, HART multiplexers, HART
Remote I/O or individual HART devices. Client-server communication utilizes either/both UDP or TCP transport. Servers also
support a minimum of two simultaneous client sessions.

MobileSatellite

ERP

HART-IP devices

Enterprise
NetworkCloud

Pl nttPlant
PlaApplications
A
App
p
pplic
cati
atio
ons
ons

Asset
Management
SystemCMMS

Internet

Plant Network
DCS

SCADA

HART 4-20mA

Wi-Fi
Control Network

Fiber Optic
Multiplexers
Concentrators
RTUs

HART Device +WirelessHART Adapter

WirelessHART

Dial-Up

4-20mA

Remote I/O Systems

WirelessHART
Gateway

WirelessHART
Devices

Non-HART Device +WirelessHART Adapter

HART-IP offers straightforward access to large amounts of
stranded HART measurement and diagnostic information fromField Devices

Field Devices

WirelessHART
Adaptercomplex or multi-variable devices that concentrate measurements into a single output. It allows the information from thesedevices to be easily integrated with TCP/IP networks, without

WirelessHART
Mesh Network

the need to go through any translation processes and with no
HART All-Digital Multidrop Mode8loss of information.

Features and Benefits of HART-IP:
Works with existing IP infrastructure
Increases safety by reducing trips to the field
Provides faster startup and device configuration
Improves plant reliability through remote access to diagnostics
Easy remote access to valuable device and process information

9

BENEFITS OF SMART DEVICES
The HART Protocol is a powerful communication technology used to employ the full potential of smart field devices. Preserving
the traditional 4-20mA signal, the HART Protocol extends system capabilities for two-way digital communication with smart field
instruments.

IIoT Ready Using Smart Device Information
Smart HART devices contain several different types of information supporting digital transformation and the IIoT. Smart devices
contribute valuable information throughout all of their life cycle phases - engineering, configuration, operation, diagnostics and

The HART Protocol offers the most cost-effective solution for smart field device communication and has the widest base of device

maintenance. Information can be grouped into 4 types: Setup / Configuration, Health Status, Complex Multivariable Measurements

suppliers and device types of any field device protocol worldwide. More instruments are available with the HART Protocol than any

and Predictive / Diagnostic Troubleshooting. The graphic below identifies some of the enhanced functions provided by smart devices

other digital communications technology. Almost any process application can be addressed by one of the products offered by HART-

that, when used effectively, save time and money.

enabled instruments or devices.

Performance Improvements
Real-time process performance anddevice health information facilitate predictive
maintenance strategies improving performance, quality and safety.

Asset and Investment Protection
As the HART Protocol is upgraded, new functions
and capabilities may be added to meet new

Magnetic
Flow Meters

user requirements. A basic premise of the
HART Protocol is that new HART instruments> Reverse Flow
> Positive Total> Negative Total> Calibration Error> Volumetric Flow
> Flow and Raw Flow Rate
> Empty Pipe Detection

must behave in precisely the same manner as
older versions when interfaced with an earlier

Calculated Enhancements
Advanced capabilities like compensated mass
flow, multi-variable calculation and valve
diagnostics can improve plant operations,product quality and regulatory compliance.

revision host system. Unlike other digitalcommunication technologies, the HART Protocol
provides a unique communication solution thatis backward compatible with the installed baseof instrumentation in use today. This backward
compatibility ensures that investments in existing
cabling and current control strategies will remain

Bottom-line Improvements
Reducing unplanned shutdowns, fasterstart-ups and lower maintenance costs
improve the bottom-line.

10

secure well into the future.

Valve Positioners,
Damper Operators> Setpoint> Total Strokes> Supply Pressure> Valve Signature> Travel Deviation> Actuator Pressure> Positioner Temp.
> Stem Position
Percentage> Process andDiagnostic Alarms

HART 7BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY

Time Savings
Remote access to device diagnostics
reduces trips into the field, saving time andresources since the majority of field service
trips report “no problem found”.

UltrasonicFlow Meters

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HART 6
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HART 5
̽3URFHVV0RQLWRULQJ
̽'LDJQRVWLFV̽&RQILJXUDWLRQ
̽5HPRWH$FFHVV> Pressure Values> Differential Pressure> Percent Range> Electronics Temp.
> Sensor Temperature> Plugged Impulse Lines> Diagnostic Alarms> Process Alarms

Differential Pressure
Transmitter> Flow> Sound Velocity> Positive Total> Negative Total> Process Alarms> Diagnostic Alarms> Mass Flow
> Volumetric Flow
> Velocity> Total Flow
> Process Temp.
> Vortex Frequency> Process Alarms> Diagnostic Alarms

VortexFlow Meters> pH Measurement> Multi-Input,
Multi-Parameters> Sensor Status> Sensor Failure or
Clogging> Reference ElectrodeFailure or Coating> Glass Impedance or
pH Slope

What Your Smart
Instruments Are Telling You

pH Analyzer & Sensor

11

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Get Trained!

FieldComm Group participates in many global seminars,

For organizations desiring to

exhibitions and user group events covering all our technologies

position themselves as leaders

and applications.

in their competitive field, theirpersonnel must be trained toWhether you are located in North or South America, Europe, Mid-take advantage of the latest

dle East, Africa or Asia, you can always find an event near you.

technology capabilities. Certified end user training is offeredat prestigious training facilities around the world to ensure

Visit fieldcommgroup.org/events to see where we will be next!

your staff are trained on the leading edge of our technologies.
Through this program, training facilities, curriculum, and instruc-

Become a Member!
FieldComm Group Membership: Gain the Competitive Edge

tors are audited to ensure they meet stringent program requirements for vendor neutrality and up-to-date competency. Learn
more by visiting the Education section of fieldcommgroup.org.
FDI unifies device drivers, configuration
tools, diagnostics and documentation
regardless of operating system with anindependent and downloadable soft-

FieldComm Group offers a significant number of benefits
through membership. Whether you are a manufacturer,
systems integrator, educational institution, end user orother professional in the business, FieldComm Group helps
you gain the competitive edge through open interoperable
standards supporting the digital transformation of industry.
Learn more by visiting go.fieldcommgroup.org/membershipware package compatible with any FDI
registered host system.

FOUNDATION™ Fieldbus provides anall-digital infrastructure, with powerfulmultivariable measurement capabilities, robust device diagnostics, and theability to integrate wireless devices
across multiple networks.

With over 40 million supported field
FieldComm Group

instruments installed worldwide, HART

9430 Research Blvd., Ste 1-120

technology offers a reliable, long-

Austin, TX 78759 USA

term solution for leveraging benefits

info@fieldcommgroup.org • +1 512.792.2300

of intelligent devices through digitalfieldcommgroup.org

communication.

© 2017 FieldComm Group, Document Number: PS10037, Rev. 1.0

Global Communication Standards

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