Recently the demand for wireless technologies has been growing fast, including in the automation industry. There are that many potential applications in manufacturing that the sheer options can become overwhelming. The key has a sound strategy 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 several common applications for wireless technology in the automation industry. One is simple monitoring. This often gets shot of the need for a human eye. Over time that can save a company money. Think about inventory control as an excellent 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 higher precision.
Another glorious application for wireless monitoring is for identifying issues with energy usage and management. By pinpointing variables in say gas use a company can then find how to lower consumption (again saving money). The same type of monitoring applies to pipeline instrumentation. The wireless automatic system can track remote information habitually.
Having claimed all that, there are limits. Some control processes simply aren't suited to underlying wifi network necessities. The secret here is how speedily the wireless system provides response, and what reply time is needed. In these time sensitive eventualities, hard-wiring remains the right way to go.
The best way to know for certain if your automation systems suit the wireless world is by checking your present sub-structure. What needs to be added to that infrastructure to deal with the wireless service insuring correct performance? Those elements need to be part of your position and your planning process. Think about this like laying a foundation to a building. Every proverbial stone should be solid and placed in the right order, particularly if you chose mesh networking. The great part of this design is that each device talks with each other device in the network, and can also become a router if it is necessary. As you expand the amount of sensors in this system, the daddy your wireless net stretches.
What about overall guidelines for wireless technology in automation? there were strides made here too. 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 starting point.
There are several common applications for wireless technology in the automation industry. One is simple monitoring. This often gets shot of the need for a human eye. Over time that can save a company money. Think about inventory control as an excellent 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 higher precision.
Another glorious application for wireless monitoring is for identifying issues with energy usage and management. By pinpointing variables in say gas use a company can then find how to lower consumption (again saving money). The same type of monitoring applies to pipeline instrumentation. The wireless automatic system can track remote information habitually.
Having claimed all that, there are limits. Some control processes simply aren't suited to underlying wifi network necessities. The secret here is how speedily the wireless system provides response, and what reply time is needed. In these time sensitive eventualities, hard-wiring remains the right way to go.
The best way to know for certain if your automation systems suit the wireless world is by checking your present sub-structure. What needs to be added to that infrastructure to deal with the wireless service insuring correct performance? Those elements need to be part of your position and your planning process. Think about this like laying a foundation to a building. Every proverbial stone should be solid and placed in the right order, particularly if you chose mesh networking. The great part of this design is that each device talks with each other device in the network, and can also become a router if it is necessary. As you expand the amount of sensors in this system, the daddy your wireless net stretches.
What about overall guidelines for wireless technology in automation? there were strides made here too. 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 starting point.
About the Author:
Todd Smith is the owner of psifla.com, a site that offers info about automation products and services.
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