Wireless standards committee fires up

Wireless is white hot in the industry these days. When you hear any news about the topic or any study on the subject, it always points out wireless is just growing by leaps and bounds.
At the ISA-SP100 wireless standard committee meeting here at ISA headquarters, you can sense the energy in a packed meeting room.
In a dispatch filed by InTech Senior Technical Editor, Nicholas Sheble, he reports, the wireless committee is working toward establishing standards, recommended practices, technical reports, and related information that will define procedures for implementing wireless systems in the automation and control environment.
This specific meeting is looking at proposals to solve critical issues associated with the deployment of wireless technology for industrial automation. The meeting will be in session through Friday, 15 September. Over 20 companies from around the world will present their ideas, cases, and solutions to the committee.
The number and variety of responses, with proposals coming from the United States, Canada, Japan, China, Germany, and others, suggests the standard is likely to meet the needs of the user community.
The committee intends to publish a standard that reflects technical solutions that will be practical, according to SP100 co-chairs Wayne Manges and Richard Sanders.
“It is not the committee’s intent to publish a standard that reflects a theoretical basis for wireless applications in industrial environments,” said Manges speaking for he and Sanders.
“We will publish a standard that will stand the test of time by not only reflecting near-term solutions for wireless technology in industrial environments but one that also allows for future growth and enhancements.
“We will consider wireless solutions that will be available within 12 to 18 months rather than only what is available today. In other words, we will write a standard that reflects practical solutions that will be accessible when the standard comes out late 2007 or early 2008.
“The proposals this week should consider this time frame for addressing what will be a practical solution and clearly state when the technology will be available for deployment.”