The Impact of Wi-Fi 6 on the Manufacturing Industry

Introduction

Over the course of my professional career, I have witnessed the introduction and evolution of wireless technologies into the manufacturing industries. In 2007, I worked on a wireless project in the pharmaceutical industry which allowed a portable equipment skid to be connected to the control system in multiple locations.? Using wireless, connections were made without the need for wired I/O racks or other interface equipment at each location.? This novel approach utilized an early version of Wi-Fi.? This version of Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 3, was known better by its standards name, IEEE 802.11g.? Wi-Fi 3 operated over relatively short distances indoors at various speeds up to 54 MBps.? While this installation was highly successful, wireless was still in its infancy in manufacturing, lacking many of the important features now required of complex manufacturing systems.

Since that time, advances in wireless technology have revolutionized the manufacturing industry, enabling wireless to provide reliable, flexible, scalable, and efficient communications. This article explores how the new Wi-Fi 6 standard is transforming manufacturing. I will focus on industrial manufacturing, using examples of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), an application in food processing, and an example from the semiconductor industry. Additionally, I will highlight Moxa’s Wi-Fi 6 products and their role in enabling this evolution.

The Evolution of Wireless Technology in Manufacturing

The benefits of wireless have always included the elimination of wired connections, providing cost savings in installation and maintenance. For portable equipment, Wi-Fi removes the limitations on mobility that a wired connection would present.

Even so, early wireless systems were often plagued by issues such as interference from other electromagnetic sources and the inability to penetrate some internal building structures reliably.? Wi-Fi had limited range, limited bandwidth, and relatively slow data transfer rates.

However, I found the biggest hurdle to overcome in recommending wireless was the perception that wireless was too unreliable and too susceptible to frequent loss of communications for use in continuous manufacturing, especially in regulated environments.?

Advancements in Wi-Fi technology, especially in the past 10 years, have addressed these challenges, leading to more robust and reliable wireless networks. Vast improvements in connectivity, cybersecurity profiles, bandwidth and speed have made the current Wi-Fi 6 of significant importance in manufacturing.

The Importance of Wi-Fi 6 in Manufacturing

Wi-Fi 6, or IEEE 802.11ax, has introduced several key features that provide significant value to the manufacturing industry. Advanced technologies like Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) enable Wi-Fi 6 to establish and maintain many simultaneous device connections. High device densities are common in environments such as factories and warehouses. Wi-Fi 6 provides the persistent connectivity required in these environments.

Wi-Fi 6 operates in license-exempt frequency bands of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.? It provides up to four times the bandwidth over its predecessor.

Wi-Fi 6 Supports Key Technologies in Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 challenges manufacturers to integrate digital technologies with the Internet of Things (IoT) into their manufacturing processes. These digital transformation strategies require continuous, high-performance wireless communication. Wi-Fi 6 plays a pivotal role in this transformation by providing the necessary infrastructure for these connected devices and systems, including video data streams and high-speed data acquisition.

A critical component of Industry 4.0 is the use of advanced analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) to gain insights from manufacturing data. Wi-Fi 6 facilitates the collection and transmission of large volumes of data, allowing AI algorithms process and analyze the information in real-time, supporting informed decision-making and continuous improvement in manufacturing processes.

Practical Applications using Wi-Fi 6

For industrial AGV installations, Wi-Fi 6 provides the low latency and seamless roaming required for precise navigation and control. AGVs are used in manufacturing to transport materials, assemble products, and perform other repetitive tasks. Wi-Fi 6 provides the communication tools, security, and bandwidth to ensure reliable connections to central control systems and other AGVs.? With multiple AGVs moving about the facility at any given time, Wi-Fi 6 is central to establishing and maintaining the many simultaneous device connections required for coordinated operation.

In the food and food processing industries, real-time monitoring and quality control are most important. As more sensors and equipment require monitoring, adding additional wiring may become prohibitive. Industry is moving towards the inclusion of wireless technologies to lessen the cost of obtaining more information about their processes without the physical cost and space limitations presented by wired systems.

Wireless sensors collect data on temperature, humidity, and other critical parameters, transmitting this information to central systems for analysis. The high bandwidth and low latency of Wi-Fi 6 ensure that this data is transmitted quickly and accurately, enabling timely interventions to maintain product quality and safety.

The semiconductor industry requires high precision and stringent quality requirements. In semiconductor fabrication plants, Wi-Fi 6 supports the seamless integration of advanced manufacturing equipment, robotic systems, and automated inspection tools. Wi-Fi 6 connectivity allows for continuous real-time data sharing and coordination, resulting in improved process control and yield.

Moxa’s Wi-Fi 6 Products

Moxa is a leading provider of industrial networking solutions and offers a range of Wi-Fi 6 products designed to meet the specific needs of the manufacturing industry. Moxa’s Wi-Fi 6 products provide robust and reliable wireless connectivity required for challenging industrial environments.

Moxa’s AWK-1160 series are compact, standalone industrial Wi-Fi 6 AP/Clients with integrated IEC 62443-4-2 based security and WPA3 encryption.? The AWK-1160 operates at speeds up to 1201 Mbps and has “Always On” connectivity features with seamless roaming capability.? The Wi-Fi 6 products employ the OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies mentioned earlier to deliver consistent high-speed connectivity, ensuring efficient operation of all connected devices. With advanced EMC and ESD features, wide operating temperature range, and shock and vibration resistance, the AWK-1160 series offers improved reliability in critical applications and extreme environmental conditions. These features make the AWK-1160 series ideal for applications in warehousing, assembly lines, and other industrial manufacturing settings.

The AWK-1165C series wireless clients have built-in 5-port Gigabit unmanaged switch ports that can reduce the complexity of installation, making it the ideal solution for AGVs, robots, and other mobile devices.

Conclusion

Wi-Fi 6 represents a significant advancement in wireless technology. Its ability to support high device densities, provide low-latency communication, and deliver persistent connectivity makes it a key enabler of Industry 4.0. By leveraging Wi-Fi 6, manufacturers can enhance the performance, reliability, and efficiency of their industrial applications and advanced manufacturing processes. Moxa’s Wi-Fi 6 products can play a crucial role in this transformation, providing the robust and reliable wireless infrastructure needed to drive the future of manufacturing.