Development of Wireless HART Gateway

Executive Summary

Our customer is a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered intrinsically safe electronic products for industrial usage.



The customer did not have expertise in the area of embedded system engineering, and hence engaged eInfochips to develop the complete Wireless HART gateway system. eInfochips worked with the customer to develop an Interface/Gateway between field HART devices and the Asset Management software (AMS).
The system exploits the popular HART protocol for connecting the transmitters/controllers over a wireless mesh network. The system gives Connectivity options which include Wired Ethernet, 4-20mA bus HART Modem. eInfochips successfully completed the firmware development and other application development, saving 40% of total cost of ownership for the system.

The Customer

Our customer is a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products. The Company’s products have primary application in the aerospace, electronics, hydrocarbon processing, petrochemical, and chemical, power generation, and automated merchandising and transportation industries. 
They are focused on serving five business segments – Aerospace & Electronics, Fluid Handling, Engineered Materials, Merchandising Systems and Controls. 

The Challenge

  • As per system requirement we had to develop gateway such a way that it can connect to multiple HART motes in a mesh network (IEEE 802.15.4) on the shop floor side using HART protocol and on other side it connects to the Asset Management system over the WLAN(IEEE 802.11/b/g) architecture using ModBUS/TCP protocol.
  • To incorporate HART Foundation compliance
  • With in short span of time we had to accomplish the project.

The Solution

Design & Development

eInfochips understood the requirements and developed the Interface/Gateway between field HART devices and the Asset Management software (AMS).
We have incorporated the features in such a way that the system uses the popular HART protocol for connecting the transmitters/controllers over a wireless mesh network. With proper understanding eInfochips has incorporated this feature.
To address the exact controlling requirements we developed complete Firmware of the HART Gateway device with various other functionalities. The firmware is developed in such a way that it can support the feature addition and enhancement in the future.



Team eInfochips has done Linux OS porting to PXA 255 platform which makes the system efficient and faster in the operations.

  • As the HART protocol is the heart of the system, we did HART protocol implementation which enables the system for acting as interface/gateway between field HART devices and the Asset Management software (AMS).
  • We also did Modbus/TCP protocol implementation which enhances ability of the system.
  • For making system more effective we have done WLAN & 802.15.4 low-level driver integration with third party packages.
  • With the basic mode of transmission as wireless transmission we enhanced system with other connectivity options like Wired Ethernet, 4-20mA bus HART Modem which enables system in operating in any of the scenario.

Technology

  • Mesh Network:  IEEE 802.15
  • Linux

The Benefit

  • Though there was little support from the customer’s side eInfochips has developed full solution in short span of time which allowed the customer in concentrating on their core operational functions
  • eInfochips leveraged expertise to develop full solution which enhanced the customer’s working efficiency and cut the project development lifecycle duration by over 15% and enabled the customer to work smartly with this Wireless HART gateway solution