PICMG Collaborates on Open Process Control Technology

The PICMG hardware standards consortium has joined forces with the Open Process Automation Forum (OPAF) to create interoperable and interchangeable technology specifications for edge controllers within the process control industry.

This partnership addresses a gap in edge controller hardware identified within the O-PAS Standard—an open architectural framework for industrial process automation systems being defined by OPAF initiatives.

To enhance and standardize the work on edge controllers conducted by OPAF member Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), The Open Group Forum assessed various hardware standards development organizations. Ultimately, OPAF Members selected PICMG to develop a new open edge hardware technology specification that outlines electromechanical interoperability, interchangeability, hot plug capabilities, and compatibility with existing standards like IEC 61499 and IEC 61131.

With over 110 members, including industry giants such as Schneider Electric, Phoenix Contact, and Intel, OPAF aims to establish resilient and scalable process automation system architectures. The O-PAS framework leverages existing standards whenever possible and collaborates with relevant organizations to define new standards where needed.

The recently approved InterEdge specification introduces a modular open architecture that provides cutting-edge I/O abstraction and flexibility in a standardized physical form factor. This aligns with OPAF and O-PAS objectives of streamlining integration, maintenance, and upgrade costs in the complex and predominantly proprietary process control technology sector.

PICMG, known for developing CompactPCI, AdvancedTCA, and COM Express hardware specifications, views this collaboration as pivotal in advancing process control edge controllers.

Efforts are already underway to enhance the InterEdge specification, with PICMG and the Open Process Automation Forum integrating InterEdge into their physical platform subcommittee's plans for an upcoming revision of the O-PAS Standard. They also intend to create a series of tests to assess compliance with the InterEdge specification.

David DeBari, Process Control Engineering Associate at ExxonMobil, emphasized the importance of hardware interchangeability in achieving interoperability, stating, “During the development of the O-PAS Standard, we recognized the necessity for physically interchangeable hardware. Given our software-centric focus, we sought third-party expertise, and PICMG emerged as the ideal partner due to their existing relationships with many of our suppliers.”

Aneil Ali, Forum Director of The Open Group Open Process Automation Forum, highlighted the significance of standardization in eliminating proprietary physical interfaces, stating, “The InterEdge standard from PICMG marks a crucial step towards this transition for end users in the process automation industry. Enabling hardware interchangeability empowers users to select components based on performance rather than physical interface compatibility, a quality attribute we anticipate being normatively referenced in the O-PAS standard.”

Steve Bitar, former ExxonMobil automation advisor and secretary of the PICMG InterEdge working group, praised the transformative nature of the collaboration, stating, “Our partnership with PICMG is revolutionary for the industry. The utilization of PICMG standards like COM-Express and COM-HPC by our vendors underscores the level of collaboration and integration that brings us closer to our vision of an industry founded on open architecture standards embraced by all stakeholders.”

The InterEdge specification is currently available for purchase on the PICMG website for $750.

For more information, visit The Open Process Automation Forum at www.opengroup.org/forum/open-process-automation-forum and PICMG at www.picmg.org.