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What is HART?

The majority of smart field devices installed worldwide today are HART-enabled. But some new in the
automation field may need a refresher on this powerful technology.

Simply put, the HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) Protocol is the global standard for
sending and receiving digital information across analog wires between smart devices and control or
monitoring system.

More specifically, HART is a bi-directional communication protocol that provides data access between
intelligent field instruments and host systems. A host can be any software application from technician's
hand-held device or laptop to a plant's process control, asset management, safety or other system using any
control platform.

A DIGITAL UPGRADE FOR EXISTING PLANTS

HART technology offers a reliable, long-term solution for plant operators who seek the benefits of
intelligent devices with digital communication – that is included in the majority of the devices being
installed. In many cases however, most applications cannot retrofit their existing automation systems with a
system that can accept the digital data which is provided by the HART Protocol.

Because most automation networks in operation today are based on traditional 4-20mA analog wiring,
HART technology serves a critical role because the digital information is simultaneously communicated
with the 4-20mA signal. Without it, there would be no digital communication.

A CRITICAL, DIGITAL ROLE

HART technology is easy to use and very reliable when used for commissioning and calibration of smart
devices as well as for continuous online diagnostics.

There are several reasons to have a host communicate with smart devices. These include:
Device Configuration or re-configuration
Device Diagnostics
Device Troubleshooting
Reading the additional measurement values provided by the device
Device Health and Status
Much more: There are many benefits of using HART technology, and more users are reporting benefits in
their projects on a continual basis. For more information please visit Success Stories

Years of success using these benefits explain why HART technology is the largest of all communication
protocols, installed in more than 30 million devices worldwide.

If you've ever used a land-line telephone and noticed the Caller ID display to take note of who is calling, you
already know half of what the HART Protocol does—it tells "who" is calling. In an industrial automation
network "who" is a microprocessor-based smart field device. In addition to letting such smart field devices
"phone home," HART Communication lets a host system send data to the smart instrument.

HART emerged in the late1980s based on the same technology that brought Caller ID to analog telephony. It
has undergone continued development, up to and including automation products now shipping with built-in
WirelessHART Communication.

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The Benefits of HART Protocol Communication in Smart Instrumentation Systems

Digital Capability
• Access to all instrument parameters & diagnostics
• Supports multivariable instruments
• On-line device status

Analog Compatibility
• Simultaneous analog & digital communication

• Compatible with existing 4-20 mA equipment & wiring Interoperability

• Fully open de facto standard

• Common Command and data structure

• Enhanced by Device Description Language

Availability

• Field proven technology with more than 1,400,000installations

• Large and growing selection of products

• Used by more smart instruments than any other in the industry

Introduction
HART® Field Communications Protocol is widely recognized as the industry standard for digitally
enhanced 4-20 mA smart instrument communication. Use of the technology is growing rapidly, and today
virtually all major global instrumentation suppliers offer products with HART communication.

The HART protocol provides a uniquely backward compatible solution for smart instrument communication
as both 4- 20 mA analog and digital communication signals are transmitted simultaneously on the same
wiring. HART provides many benefits promised by fieldbus, while retaining the compatibility and
familiarity of existing 4-20 mA systems.

This paper provides a brief overview of the HART protocol and the benefits achievable with this important
technology. Per instrument cost savings benefits of $300-500 in initial installation/commissioning and $100-
200 per year in ongoing maintenance/operations are commonly reported.

Analog + Digital Communication

For many years, the field communication standard used by process automation equipment has been a
milliampere (mA) analog current signal. In most applications the milliampere signal varies within a range of
4-20 mA in proportion to the process variable being represented. Virtually all installed plant instrumentation
systems use this international standard to communicate process variable information.
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Simultaneous Analog + Digital Communication

Figure 1 - HART uses Frequency Shift Keying to encode digital

information on top of the 4-20 mA analog signal

HART Field Communications Protocol extends the 4-20 mA standard to enhance communication with
intelligent measurement and control instrumentation. A major step in the evolution of process control, the
HART protocol is fostering significant innovation in process instrumentation capabilities. The enhanced
communication characteristics of this important technology are reflected in the protocol name, HART which
stands for “Highway Addressable Remote Transducer”.

The HART protocol enables two-way digital communication with smart instruments without disturbing the
4-20 mA analog signal. Both the 4-20 mA analog and HART digital communication signals can be
transmitted simultaneously over the same wiring. Primary variable and control signal information is carried
by the 4-20 mA (if desired), while additional measurements, process parameters, device configuration,
calibration, and diagnostics information is accessible through the HART protocol over the same wires at the
same time. Unlike other “open” digital communication technologies for process instrumentation, HART is
compatible with existing systems.

The HART Technology

The HART protocol makes use of the Bell 202 Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) standard to superimpose
digital communication signals at a low level on top of the 4-20 mA. Since the digital FSK signal is phase
continuous, it does not interfere with the 4-20 mA signal. A logical “1” is represented by a frequency of
1200 Hz and a logical “0” is represented by a frequency of 2200 Hz as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The HART FSK signaling enables two-way digital communication and makes it possible for additional
information beyond just the normal process variable to be communicated to or from a smart field instrument.
The HART protocol communicates at 1200 bits per second without interrupting the 4-20 mA signal and
allows a host application (master) to get two or more digital updates per second from a field device.

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Figure 2 - HART digital communication signal superimposed on the
4-20 mA analog signal

Flexible Application
HART is principally a master/slave protocol which means that a field (slave) device speaks only when
spoken to by a master. Two masters (primary and secondary) can communicate with slave devices in a
HART network. Secondary masters, such as handheld communicators, can be connected almost anywhere
on the network and communicate with field devices without disturbing communication with the primary
master. A primary master is typically a DCS, PLC, or computer based central control or monitoring system.
A typical installation with two masters is shown in Figure 3.

The HART protocol can be used in various modes for communicating information to/from smart field
instruments and central control or monitoring equipment. Digital master/slave communication simultaneous
with the 4-20 mA analog signal is the most common. This mode, allows digital information from the slave
device to be updated twice per second in the master. The 4-20 mA analog signal is continuous and can still
carry the primary variable for control.

Figure 3 - The HART protocol allows two Master devices

to access information in Slave (field) devices

Innovative Application Example

The power of the HART protocol is evident in the control diagram of Figure 4. This innovative application
uses the inherent feature of the HART protocol that both 4-20 mA analog and digital communication signals
are transmitted simultaneously over the same wiring.

In this application, the HART-compatible transmitter has an internal PID control capability. The device is
configured such that the 4-20 mA loop current is proportional to the control output of the PID algorithm
executing in the device (not the measured variable as in most transmitter applications). Since the 4-20 mA
loop current is regulated by the PID control output, it is used to drive the valve position directly.

The control loop executes entirely in the field between the transmitter (with PID) and the control valve. The
control action is continuous as the traditional 4-20 mA analog signal drives the valve. HART digital
communication links the operator with the control loop to change set point, and read the primary variable, or
valve position output. Substantial savings are possible in applications where this innovative control
architecture is appropriate.

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Figure 4 - Some HART-bassed instruments include PID algorithms

for implementing cost effective control

Best Solution
The HART protocol provides users with the best solution and migration path for capturing the benefits of
enhanced communication with smart instrumentation. No other communication technology can match the
base of support or wide range of products that are available with HART today. The technology is easy to use
and HART-compatible products are available from major instrumentation suppliers to address virtually all
process measurement and control applications.

The emergence of fieldbus will not displace HART in either existing or new production facilities. HART
provides users with many of the same benefits while retaining the compatibility and familiarity of existing 4-
20 mA systems. HART allows the cost saving benefits of remote communication, flexible/accurate digital
data transmission, field device diagnostics, and powerful multiparameter instruments to be captured without
replacing entire systems.

Connection to current and future plant networks is assured by the digital communication capability and large
installed base (more than 5,000,000 installations and growing rapidly).

Support of the HART Communication Foundation ensures that the technology will continue to evolve for
serving the needs of smart instrumentation today and tomorrow.

Written by Ron Helson

HART Communication Foundation
9390 Research Blvd., Suite I-350
Austin, Texas 78759 USA