Sun Microsystems Inc has formalized its Java efforts in the process control and automation industries into something called the Java Control and Automation Framework (JCAF). Its goal, through marketing and engineering initiatives, is to drive acceptance of Java in these industries, and builds upon last year’s Java Automation API. JCAF participants are supposed to work with Sun to identify areas for which Java is suitable and then jointly develop pilot projects in these areas. Projects are already underway in such areas of interoperability and plant navigation with Westinghouse, device management with Schneider Automation and real time device control with Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. Future pilots being considered include continuous process control and process logic.
