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 doesit 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 builtinWirelessHART Communication. How HART Works HART is an acronym for Highway Addressable Remote Transducer. 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 420mA.

Figure 1. Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) This enables two-way field communication to take place and makes it possible for additional information beyond just the normal process variable to be communicated to/from a smart field instrument. The HART Protocol communicates at 1200 bps without interrupting the 4-20mA signal and allows a host application (master) to get two or more digital updates per second from a smart field device. As the digital FSK signal is phase continuous, there is no interference with the 4-20mA signal. HART technology is a master/slave protocol, which means that a smart field (slave) device only speaks when spoken to by a master. The HART Protocol can be used in various modes such as point-to-point or multidrop for communicating information to/from smart field instruments and central control or monitoring systems. HART Communication occurs between two HART-enabled devices, typically a smart field device and a control or monitoring system. Communication occurs using standard instrumentation grade wire and using standard wiring and termination practices. The HART Protocol provides two simultaneous communication channels: the 4-20mA analog signal and a digital signal. The 4-20mA signal communicates the primary measured value (in the case of a field instrument) using the 420mA current loop - the fastest and most reliable industry standard. Additional device information is communicated using a digital signal that is superimposed on the analog signal. The digital signal contains information from the device including device status, diagnostics, additional measured or calculated values, etc. Together, the two communication channels provide a low-cost and very robust complete field communication solution that is easy to use and configure.

Figure 2. Two Communication Channels The HART Protocol provides for up to two masters (primary and secondary). This allows secondary masters such as handheld communicators to be used without interfering with communications to/from the primary master, i.e. control/monitoring system.

Figure 3. Primary and Secondary Masters The HART Protocol permits all digital communication with field devices in either point-to-point or multidrop network configurations:

Figure 4. Point-to-Point Configuration Multidrop Configuration There is also an optional "burst" communication mode where a single slave device can continuously broadcast a standard HART reply message. Higher update rates are possible with this optional burst communication mode and use is normally restricted to point-to-point configuration.

Figure 5. Multidrop Configuration Benefits of Using HART Communication Engineers operating in analog automation environments no longer need utter the words "if only" as in "if only I could get the device information without going into the field" or if only I could get this configuration information from that pressure transmitter into my PC." Users worldwide who have realized the benefits of HART Communication know that they can gain quick, easy visibility to devices in the field when using HART-enabled handheld test, calibration devices and portable computers. In fact, device testing, diagnostics and configuration has never been easier! However, many have yet to realize HART technologys greatest benefits which come from full-time connections with real-time asset management and/or control systems. HART technology can help you:

Leverage the capabilities of a full set of intelligent device data for operational improvements. Gain early warnings to variances in device, product or process performance. Speed the troubleshooting time between the identification and resolution of problems. Continuously validate the integrity of loops and control/automation system strategies. Increase asset productivity and system availability.

Increase Plant Availability

Integrate devices and systems for detection of previously undetectable problems. Detect device and/or process connection problems real time. Minimize the impact of deviations by gaining new, early warnings. Avoid the high cost of unscheduled shutdowns or process disruptions.

Reduce Maintenance Costs

Quickly verify and validate control loop and device configuration. Use remote diagnostics to reduce unnecessary field checks. Capture performance trend data for predictive maintenance diagnostics. Reduce spares inventory and device management costs.

Improve regulatory compliance

Enable automated record keeping of compliance data.

Facilitates automated safety shutdown testing. Raise SIL/safety integrity level with advanced diagnostics. Take advantage of intelligent multivariable devices for more thorough, accurate reporting.

The standard features of HART technology range from simple compatibility with existing 4-20mA analog networks to a broad product selection:

Compatibility with standard 4-20mA wiring Simultaneous transmission of digital data Simplicity through intuitive menu-driven interfaces Risk reduction through a highly accurate and robust protocol Ease of implementation for maximum up-front cost effectiveness Broad product selection, with compatible devices and software applications from most process automation providers Platform independence for full interoperability in multi-vendor environments

Worldwide support by leading suppliers Most of the worlds leading process instrumentation and control system suppliers, comprising most of the industrys solutions, actively support HART technology. There are 990+ registered devices in 20 device categories manufactured by 230+ members of the HART Communication Foundation.