Today, the word Fieldbus has become generic, it does not refer to only FOUNDATION Fieldbus, it may mean any kind of fieldbus, including but not limited to Profibus PA, Profibus DP, ASi bus, Device net and all other kinds of device buses. It is essential that when one refers to Fieldbus one understands that it may be any kind of Fieldbus (as a technology) and not a particular kind of Fieldbus (such as FOUNDATION Fieldbus).
Fieldbus technology though not new has only recently started becoming used in a large degree. This is because not only due to the conservative nature of many plant owner/operators, it is also that existing legacy instruments and systems now have started reaching the end of the plant lifecycle and owners are now looking at upgrading to something better. This is where Fieldbus is getting to be important. Understanding it could lead to better design while doing the changeovers and also increased job opportunities who have the right skills. The right skills are gained by a mix of proper training and on the job learning. The best way to start training is to get started with an e-learning course that covers Fieldbus technology in general. There is a great e-learning course that covers generic fieldbus technology, plus the ins and outs of FOUNDATION Fieldbus, Profibus PA and ASi bus here. You can take a look at the demo before you decide to go for it.
Note: FOUNDATION Fieldbus, Profibus, ASi are all registered trademarks owned by various organizations.
