Smart Buildings - BACnet vs.

LonWorks

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BACnet
One of BACnet's strengths is that it has the prioritizing system for device messages and gives it
a big distinction over LonWorks, according to H. Michael Newman, manager of the utilities
computer section at Cornell University. He is a top expert on BACnet who actually chaired the
committee that created the standard for BACnet. Newman says, "In LonWorks, last command
wins no matter when it arrives. With BACnet, you can assign priorities based on the job and
situation, and they're enforced based on the protocol." Another advantage of BACnet is that it

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 Smart Buildings - BACnet vs. LonWorks

can work with many networking standards, such as Ethernet, ARCnet, and LonTalk. It also can
run under most any network data transfer mediums, like twisted-pair copper, coaxial cable, and
fiber optics making it very easy to implement to networking systems currently in place in
structures today. Also, the creators of BACnet-based systems have the ability to add other
applications to the standard objects that can lead to the object being used more efficiently. For
example, the creators of an air conditioning object have the ability with BACnet technology to
create their own scheduling program that can send them information every so often regarding a
building's temperature information. This information can be analyzed and used to tweek the air
conditioning system in order to save on energy costs.

LonWorks
As stated
previously,
LonWorks was
developed in the
early 1990's by a
company called
Echelon. It was
originally designed
for use in the
transportation and
utilities industries but
is being more widely
used as of late.
Echelon partnered up
with Cypress
Semiconductor,
STMicroelectronics, and Toshiba to create the Neuron Chip, the basic interface between each
device that is involved in the network and the control system. The communication protocol used
as the medium between control and device is called LonTalk. The Neuron Chip was designed
with economy in mind, as each chip costs around $4. The chip has the ability to send and receive
data over any medium used in the network. LonWorks has a huge advantage over BACnet in
regard to the number of systems that are implemented around the world. It is estimated that some
30 million Neuron Chips are in use today, in places ranging from the Sears Tower in Chicago to
some 1100 7-Elevens throughout Japan.

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 Smart Buildings - BACnet vs. LonWorks

Although both methods of building automation are gaining momentum, there are still many
hurdles that both must overcome. The manufacturers of many building systems are still reluctant
to spend the extra money to have their own protocols coincide with BACnet, LonWorks, or both.
For BACnet systems, this can make data sharing between objects amuch more complicated.
Also, many companies choose not to design their products with Neuron Chip control in mind,
also making the transition to automation much trickier. But their is hope as more building
owners wish to transfer over to this new style of structure management. This added desire for
change is beginning to put pressure on manufacturers to spend the extra time to make their
products compatible.

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