Automatic configuration and diagnostics for fieldbus based automation

The paper represents an automatic configuration model and a general purpose diagnostics tool for diverse industrial fieldbus systems. The ideas and concepts presented in the paper were born during the Kedi project, in which the purpose was to build an on-line diagnostics tool for fieldbus systems and make the first prototype of automatic configuration application. In the automatic configuration device parameters are downloaded into a fieldbus device from a planning system and useful device data is transferred back to the planning system. The online diagnostics tool includes both device and segment diagnostics that have been used in FF, Profibus and LON fieldbus systems. The tool shows traffic light representation of device and segment status, which can also be monitored via a Web browser in the factory network or directly as standalone software. All concepts discussed in the paper can be integrated into a single software module on the factory net.