In recent history the clamor for wireless technologies has been growing exponentially, including in the automation industry. There are that many potential applications in producing that the sheer options can become overwhelming. The key has a sound plan for wireless applications, realizing that some systems benefit from hard-wiring, and that hard-wiring also makes a good 'back up ' plan for when a wireless system goes down.
There are a few common applications for wireless technology in the automation industry. One is easy monitoring. This regularly eliminates the requirement for a human eye. Over a period of time that will save a company cash. Think about inventory control as a superb example, including remote inventories. Especially in large companies this becomes a strenuous task for employees doing it by hand. Having a wireless, automated application simplifies everything and also provides greater accuracy.
Another excellent application for wireless monitoring is for identifying issues with power usage and management. By spotting variables in say gas usage a company can then find ways to reduce consumption (again saving money). The same kind of monitoring is applicable to pipeline instrumentation. The wireless automated system can track remote info consistently.
Having claimed all that, there are limits. Some control processes simply aren't fitted to underlying wifi network requirements. The key here is how swiftly the wireless system provides reply, and what response time is needed. In these time sensitive eventualities, hard-wiring remains the most obvious way to go.
The best way to know for certain if your automation systems suit the wireless world is by checking your present infrastructure. What needs to be added to that infrastructure to deal with the wireless service insuring proper performance? Those elements must be part of your position and your planning process. Think about this like laying a foundation to a building. Every time-honoured stone must be solid and placed in the required order, particularly if you selected mesh networking. The great part of this design is that each device communicates with every other device in the network, and can also become a router if it's required. As you expand the quantity of sensors in this system, the daddy your wifi network stretches.
What about overall guidelines for wireless technology in automation? there were strides made here as well. The industry standards is named WirelessHART. These standards provide protocols for a wide-range of wireless communications. While this is no means a unified standard, it's a start.
There are a few common applications for wireless technology in the automation industry. One is easy monitoring. This regularly eliminates the requirement for a human eye. Over a period of time that will save a company cash. Think about inventory control as a superb example, including remote inventories. Especially in large companies this becomes a strenuous task for employees doing it by hand. Having a wireless, automated application simplifies everything and also provides greater accuracy.
Another excellent application for wireless monitoring is for identifying issues with power usage and management. By spotting variables in say gas usage a company can then find ways to reduce consumption (again saving money). The same kind of monitoring is applicable to pipeline instrumentation. The wireless automated system can track remote info consistently.
Having claimed all that, there are limits. Some control processes simply aren't fitted to underlying wifi network requirements. The key here is how swiftly the wireless system provides reply, and what response time is needed. In these time sensitive eventualities, hard-wiring remains the most obvious way to go.
The best way to know for certain if your automation systems suit the wireless world is by checking your present infrastructure. What needs to be added to that infrastructure to deal with the wireless service insuring proper performance? Those elements must be part of your position and your planning process. Think about this like laying a foundation to a building. Every time-honoured stone must be solid and placed in the required order, particularly if you selected mesh networking. The great part of this design is that each device communicates with every other device in the network, and can also become a router if it's required. As you expand the quantity of sensors in this system, the daddy your wifi network stretches.
What about overall guidelines for wireless technology in automation? there were strides made here as well. The industry standards is named WirelessHART. These standards provide protocols for a wide-range of wireless communications. While this is no means a unified standard, it's a start.
About the Author:
Todd Smith owns of psifla.com, a website that offers info about automation goods and services.