Schneider Electric joins IDA

Schneider Electric's Automation Business (North Andover, MA) joined the Interface for Distributed Automation (IDA), a group of companies with a vision of true interoperability. Schneider's membership is a definitive way for them to contribute to IDA's efforts to define an object oriented layer on top of TCP/IP and UPD protocols and to facilitate distribution of control in intelligent devices and applications.

IDA-developed specifications will be publicly available, along with source code samples for different platforms. This will facilitate the development of Ethernet-based solutions at the device level by independent vendors.

"It is a big advantage to have Schneider Electric on board working with us to define the services required to implement access to information from devices using standard web browsers," said IDA spokesman, Martin Muller of Phoenix Contact.

What is the IDA?
IDA is a group of companies that joined their current marketing and technical efforts on Ethernet and Web technologies to co-develop distributed intelligence architectures. IDA specifies and implements the services supporting distributed intelligence, links with business applications, web integration, safety, tool interoperability and device communication using Ethernet and web standards. Also, IDA provides specifications and source code samples, guarantees interoperability of IDA third-party products and delivers training materials. IDA's founder companies are AG-E, Jetter, Kuka, Lenze, Phoenix Contact, Real Time Innovation, Schneider Electric and Sick. Visit them on the Web at www.ida-group.org.

Edited by Jerry R. Borland, P.E.
Managing Editor, EC Online