PI (Profibus & Profinet International) has specified Profisafe for wireless networks. The new version of the Profisafe profile (Version 2.4) describes the conditions for the functionally safe transmission of data via WLAN and Bluetooth. PI says that the concept has been assessed and approved by the BGIA and TÜV.

The publication of the specification of Profisafe on Profinet IO – and hence on Ethernet – in 2005 was described by PI as a trailblazing success, simultaneously confirming the compatibility, in principle, of Profisafe for wireless networks. It was then simply a case of defining the details in respect of the issue of security; in other words, access protection for safety-relevant data. The new Profisafe profile Version 2.4 specifies the security issues involved in the configuration of wireless components for secure cyclic data exchange. PI says the first applications with Profisafe for wireless are already proving their worth in practice.

Members of PI can download the profile for free from the PI website (non-members can purchase the document from their local Regional Profibus Association for E150).

For more information, visit www.profibus.com