A configurable field device for automation technology with a partially dynamically reconfigurable logic chip FPGA, in which function modules are dynamically configured during runtime, and to a method for operating the configurable field device. An alert system has an ultrasonic wave emitting device mounted on a mobile body, and an ultrasonic wave emitting device permanently installed near an area. The object index includes fault tolerance metadata for each data object that specifies the fault tolerance techniques used in storing a data object, such as a particular RAID level. The input commands can move the robot so that a video image and sounds of the patient can be captured by a robot camera and microphone, respectively, and transmitted back to the remote station. Based on the category for each component, the insurance application may be assigned an underwriting category.