In the field of device integration in the process automation industry, FDT (Field Device Tool) is the most widely used international standard (IEC 62453) and the Chinese national standard (GB/T 29618).
FDT can support any device on any bus from any manufacturer and can support a variety of applications, such as configuration, diagnostics, condition monitoring, and data acquisition, in one platform.
The FDT standard has evolved over time, with three major versions: 1.2.x, 2.x, and the latest 3.0. FDT 1.2.x, introduced in 2001, and FDT 2.x, launched in 2012, were designed for Windows. However, the most recent FDT 3.0, unveiled in 2020, is a cross-platform solution, catering to the evolving needs of the industry.
In the FDT system, the upper computer software, known as Frame Application, acts as the interface between the user and the device. On the other hand, the device driver, called DTM (Device Type Manager), enables the device to communicate and control itself.
A DTM can only select one specific FDT version, while the framework can support multiple FDT versions of the DTM.
The DTM provides rich device configuration and diagnostic functions through a unified style graphical interface and can effectively reduce the training cost of equipment maintenance personnel.
DTMs can be categorized into Communication DTMs, Gateway DTMs, and Device DTMs. Where a device DTM is the FDT driver of an intelligent field device (instrument or actuator), a communication DTM is the FDT driver of a communication device (e.g., a DCS master controller, a bus communication card, or a HART Modem), and all other intelligent devices (e.g., a Remote IO.) between the communication device and the smart field device are called gateway DTMs, HART Multiplexer) FDT drivers are called Gateway DTMs.
DTM Development Program
In the FDT system, the management of and access to intelligent field devices is achieved by means of DTMs. DTMs are generally developed by the equipment provider, and the optional technical solutions are described in the following section one by one.
dtmMANAGER is a DTM development suite provided by M&M Software, which provides a complete DTM development toolchain to automatically generate a runnable base DTM through graphical wizards without the need for FDT domain knowledge.
Equipment providers developing their own DTMs use dtmMANAGER as the most used tool for DTM development.
Applicable Scenarios:
- Development of communication DTMs for DCS master controllers, gateway DTMs for IO modules and multiplexing
- Equipment providers have a large number of device types and need to support multiple fieldbuses
- Device types with more complex functions and views (e.g. advanced diagnostics for valves, controller configuration, comparative analysis of historical curves, etc.) that want to customize the DTM in depth to take full advantage of the capabilities of the smart device
Advantage:
- The business logic and user interface of the DTM can be customized at will.
- Full control over domain knowledge and DTM source code
- Support for FDT 1.2.x, FDT 2.x and FDT 3.0
Cost:
- M&M Software dtmMANAGER Licence
- Annual Maintenance of M&M Software dtmMANAGER
- dtmMANAGER Training Workshop
- Labor costs for DTM development teams to develop DTMs
Deliverables:
M&M Software dtmMANAGER Standard Products
- Installation package
- Development Tutorial Documentation
- dtmMANAGER source code
- Sample DTM Source Code
- Annual technical support services
- Training Workshop
GenericDTM is a general-purpose DTM product of M&M Software, which realizes the basic access capability to all intelligent devices of a specific bus, such as process values, device status, measured value quality, etc., based on the common commands of the fieldbus and the device line rules.
Applicable Scenarios:
- Device type does not provide additional owned parameters
- Need to quickly provide DTMs for one or more device types at the lowest cost to meet project requirements
- Provide basic access to smart devices as a transitional solution until formal complex DTM development is complete
Advantage:
- All HART devices are supported, Profibus PA devices will be supported soon.
- No additional driver information is required for the device
- Efficient acquisition of equipment status and primary and secondary process values
- Low cost
- Short lead times
Cost:
Choose between Device Type Licensing and Device Provider OEM Licensing:
- M&M Software genericDTM device type license, available only for the licensed device type, charged per device type quantity
- M&M Software genericDTM device provider OEM license, supports all device types of the licensed device provider, provides OEM version of the DTM installation package
Deliverables:
Based on the choice of the type of authorization:
- M&M Software genericDTM binary installer + device type license file
- genericDTM OEM Edition Binary Installer
fdiDTM is M&M Software’s Interpreter DTM product that encapsulates a device’s DD/FDI files into a DTM for integration into the FDT framework, while providing a graphical interface and API-based data access capabilities.
Applicable Scenarios:
- Integration of DD/FDI technology into FDT systems
- Low-cost, fast DTM for device types with DDs
Advantage:
- Support for DD parameters
- Supports access to parameters via graphical interface and APIs
- Support for HART, FF, PROFIBUS and PROFINET
- Support for FDT 2.x and FDT 3.0
Cost:
Choose between Device Type License, Device Provider OEM License and System Provider OEM License:
- M&M Software fdiDTM device type authorization, available only for the authorized device type, charged per device type number
- M&M Software fdiDTM device provider OEM license, supports all device types of the licensed device provider, provides OEM version of the DTM installation package
- M&M Software fdiDTM system provider OEM license, support any device type, provide OEM version of the DTM installation package
Deliverables:
Based on the choice of the type of authorization:
- M&M Software fdiDTM binary installer + device type license file
- fdiDTM OEM Edition Binary Installer + Device Provider License File
- fdiDTM OEM Edition Binary Installer + System Provider License File
dsIDTM introduces DSL (Domain Specific Language) technology, which describes in textual form how each parameter of the device is read and written, as well as how the parameters are organized and presented in the user interface, to significantly reduce the development costs of DTM.
Applicable Scenarios:
- Need for low-cost, fast DTMs for a larger number of device types
- Complex functions such as advanced diagnostics need to be supported through secondary development beyond parameter access.
Advantage:
- Supports any device and any bus
- Parametric access can be supported inexpensively and quickly
- Provide source code and support advanced functionality through secondary development
- Supports FDT 2.x and FDT 3.0
Cost:
- M&M Software dsIDTM Licence
- M&M Software dsIDTM Annual Maintenance
- dsIDTM Training Workshop
- Labor costs for DTM development teams to write DSLs and secondary development of advanced features
Deliverables:
M&M Software dsIDTM standard products
- Installer
- Development Tutorial Documentation
- dsIDTM source code
- Example Device DSL Source Code
- Sample secondary development of advanced functionality source code
- Annual technical support services
- Training Workshop
basicDTM is a standard service provided by M&M Software to translate DD source code into DTM code.
Applicable Scenarios:
- Smart devices already have DD
- Equipment providers need to deliver DTMs in a very short period of time
Advantage:
- Short delivery times
- Support for DD parameters
- Support DD method
- Customization can be added in addition to DD
Cost:
- M&M Software dtmMANAGER Single Project License
- M&M Software basicDTM Single Project License
Deliverables:
- DTM Binary installation package
- DTM Binary Installer
Customized Development of M&M Software DTM
In addition to the products, M&M Software also provides custom DTM development services, helping customers that choose to outsource their DTM based developed based on M&M Software’s products mentioned above.
Applicable Scenarios:
- Lack of on-board software developers or insufficient manpower to complete DTM development by the specified delivery date
- Device types with very complex functionality or large technical challenges in DTM development
Advantage:
- Rapid implementation of complex functionality without the need for a large development team
- DTM quality can be guaranteed, and you can be sure to pass the official DTM certification test of the FDT organization.
- Support for FDT 1.2.x, FDT 2.x and FDT 3.0
Cost:
- Product-specific licenses for M&M Software
- DTM development costs
Deliverables:
- Standard deliverables for specific products from M&M
- DTM Binary Installer
- DTM Source Code
FDT Version Selection
A DTM can only support one specific FDT version. A brief comparison of the FDT versions and recommendations for selection are described in the charts below.
Comparison of Features of FDT Versions
The table below briefly compares the differences between the FDT versions.
| Comparison Term | FDT 1.2.x | FDT 2.x | FDT 3.0 |
| Interface Definition | COM | .NET Framework | .NET Standard |
| Data Definition | XML | .NET Framework | .NET Standard |
| User | ActiveX | WPF/WinForms | HTML5 |
| Development Language | C++ | C# | C# |
| Operating System | Windows | Windows | Windows/Linux/MacOS |
| CPU | x86 | x86 | x86/ARM/LonngArch |
It is important to note that the FDT Group requires that the development of software based on FDT 3.0 technology be preceded by the signing of the FDT Standard Collaboration Agreement. Please get in touch with FDT China for a copy of the agreement.
Recommendations for FDT Version Selection
The following table briefly lists the factors that influence the choice of FDT version, with ■ indicating recommended, □ indicating optional, and ‘X’ indicating not supported.
| Influence Factors | FDT 1.2 | FDT 1.2.1 | FDT 2.0 | FDT 2.1 | FDT 3.0 |
| FDT framework only supports FDT 1.2.x | ■ | □ | X | X | X |
| FDT framework supports FDT 1.2.x/2.x | □ | □ | □ | ■ | X |
| FDT framework supports FDT 1.2.x/2.x/3.0 | □ | □ | □ | □ | ■ |
| FDT framework only supports FDT 3.0 | X | X | X | X | ■ |
| DTM needs to support cross-platform | X | X | X | X | ■ |
| DTM needs to support mobility | X | X | X | X | ■ |
| DTM needs to support data access via API | X | X | X | X | ■ |
| DTM needs to support data access via OPC UA | X | X | □ | ■ | ■ |
| DTM needs to pass certification tests | ■ | □ | ■ | □ | ■ |
| DTM requires low development and maintenance costs | X | X | □ | □ | ■ |
| DTM requires fewer incompatibilities with frameworks | X | X | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| Unable to sign SCA | □ | □ | □ | ■ | X |