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In this paper we show that it is possible to retrofit a security layer on top of PROFINET IO without changing the underlying transmission system or standards. By introducing security modules, end-to-end network security can be achieved and ensure authentication, integrity and confidentiality for real-time communication.

The concept of security modules is a flexible framework and countermeasures can be changed, as security threats and exploits are changing over time. A proof-of-concept implementation shows that it is possible to implement security modules on existing products and secure them against, for example, man-in-the-middle attacks.

In this paper we describe a method to integrate WirelessHART networks in Distributed Control Systems (DCS)using PROFINET IO. By modeling the WirelessHART network in the Generic Station Description file, that describes a PROFINET IO device, the WirelessHART related configuration can be distributed from the central engineering stations. In this way, both process controller configuration and WirelessHART network configuration is engineered and maintained from a central location. Thus the end-user do not need any additional tool-specific training, as the existing tools are used to engineer the WirelessHART networks. We base the method of integration on the keywords simple deployment and maintenance, and flexible topology. A proof-of-concept implementation of the proposed method shows that it is possible to download WirelessHART configuration both to the WirelessHART network managers, as well as the WirelessHART sensors. By integrating WirelessHART in this way, maintenance is greatly simplified as the actual configuration will be downloaded automatically by the DCS when faulty field devices are replaced.

Two major trends can be recognized in industrial automation. One of them is that Ethernet is replacing traditional fieldbus networks continuously, because it combines flexibility, reliability, and introduces fast data rates, which allow beside others quality of services. This is pushed even further when field devices use wireless communication to connect to the control system. Beside that another trend is seen in functional safety due to rising customer demands and evolving regulations in industry. That leads necessarily to a consolidation of both technologies, where safety must be guaranteed in the same manner over wireless channels as it is handled over Ethernet. This paper addresses safety issues emerging when PROFIsafe, as one of various safety protocols on the market, is used on top of a black channel layer, which is comprised by non safe protocols including WirelessHART.

Wireless sensor and actuator networks bring many benefits to industrial automation systems. However, unreliable wireless and multihop communications among sensors and actuators cause challenges in designing such systems. In this paper we focus on WirelessHART and propose a periodic and deterministic downlink transmission functionality which enables efficient usage of actuators and enabling control applications. Furthermore, we define new HART commands extending the interface, without affecting available services.

Wireless communication has gained more interest in industrial automation due to flexibility, mobility, and cost reduction. Wireless systems, in general, require additional and different engineering and maintenance tasks, for example cryptographic key management. This is an important aspect that needs to be addressed before wireless systems can be deployed and maintained efficiently in the industry. In this paper, we take an holistic approach that addresses safety and security regardless of the underlying media. In our proposed framework we introduce security modules which can be retrofitted to provide end-to-end integrity and authentication measures by utilizing the black channel concept. With the proposed approach, we can extend and provide end-to-end security as well as functional safety using existing automation equipment and standards, such as Profisafe, Profinet IO, and WirelessHART. Furthermore, we improve the WirelessHART standard with periodic and deterministic downlink transmissions to enable efficient usage of wireless actuators, as well as improving the performance of functional safety protocols.

A growing trend in the automation industry is to use wireless technologies to reduce cable cost, deployment time, unlocking of stranded information in previously deployed devices, and enabling wireless control applications. Despite a huge research effort in the area of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), there are several issues that have not been addressed properly such that WSNs can be adopted properly in the process automation domain. This article presents the major requirements for typical applications in process automation and we also aim to outline the research direction for industrial wireless sensor networks (IWSNs) in industrial automation. The major issues that need to be addressed are safety, security and availability before industrial wireless sensor networks will be adopted in full scale in process automation. © 2011 IEEE.