futuretech: Editor’s note

General Motors North American Operations spent over six months investigating and testing various DeviceNet products to validate them for the Saturn Innovate Project. Erick Rudaitis, Gary C. Workman and Hyung Lim of the controls, robotics and welding group have produced a report that provides customer feedback to DeviceNet suppliers to help them manufacture products that electricians in a plant environment can install and maintain without additional support.

The report provides feedback on General Motors’ investigative testing and offers ideas for improvements that could be used by the Saturn Innovate Project Implementers. It includes comments on a wide variety of products. It can be found via the Internet at www.odva.org. Click on Downloads and then on Technical Papers to view the report.

Mr. O, the Practical Problem Solver, advises that the ODVA website (www.odva.org) also features Dr. DeviceNet, a free technical service available to anyone. ODVA has retained 12 DeviceNet technical experts from around the world who will provide an expert answer to any DeviceNet question on product design, troubleshooting, applications, clarification of the DeviceNet specifications, or good installation practices.