Wireless Network - Major Trend in Industrial Network

Industrial wireless sensor network have attracted much attention as a cornerstone to making the smart factories real. Utilizing industrial wireless sensor networks as a base for smart factories makes it possible to optimize the production line without human resources.

Now a day machines are getting connected more and more over the networks by wired or wireless technology. 

Industrial wireless systems play a key role in the implementation of such concepts as they offer numerous possibilities for making production processes more efficient, flexible, and convenient. Wireless communication involve in the uses of some type of electromagnetic radiation such as infrared, radio waves to transmit information over the air.

Modern Industrial environment are increasingly using wireless technologies to transfer the data. Wireless system mostly use the license free ISM frequency band to transfer process and diagnostic data. 

Wireless Challenges 

There are so many benefits, even companies are not moving to wireless solution. Why. There are some challenges faced by the organization when they shifted to wireless environment. In industry, uninterrupted production is first priority; plant managers will not adopt any new technology until they are certain it can deliver real value to the operations. 

Wireless network has its own benefits and only single solution for different industrial needs. Still network architecture prefer wired network to wireless due to historical challenge:

• Inconsistency in signal strength
• Wireless Security
• Electromagnetic interference
• Lack of suitable technology
• Industrial protocol were not supported
• Long distance solution 

MIMO Technology (Multiple In Multiple Out)

MIMO technology is a key technology to improve the strength and reliability of wireless signal strength.

In MIMO technology there are three antenna that are send data stream to every antenna on receiving end. In this way , signal strength is improved and consistent as shown in above diagram.

Electromagnetic interference

Typically open radio frequency 900 Mhz and 2.4 Ghz tend to bounce off larger objects, metals and concrete , and return to the transmitter, causing an echo or multi-path effect.

Noise

 Electromagnetic emissions created by large motors, heavy equipment , high power generation and usage. And other typical industrial machinery creates a high level of noise that prevented early transmitters and remote nodes from hearing each other or reaching to each other.

FHSS ( Frequency Hoping Spread Spectrum) data is transmitted on a single channel at a time, but the channel is rapidly and constantly changing or hopping. This scheme require low bandwidth for communication.

DSSS ( Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) Data is transmitted simultaneously over every available channel , making it a bit more reliable in noisy , but is also bandwidth intensive.

Long Distance

New evolved technologies in wireless communication make it possible to cover a long distance. Below mentioned feature enable the long distance wireless communication.

• Increase in transmit power
• 2.4 Ghz frequency (tighter, shorter wave length)
• 900 Mhz frequency ( longer wave length)
• Greater receiver sensitivity
• Directional antenna
•  Omni directional antenna

The right wireless technology for your application

In practice, various wireless technologies have proved suitable for a range of applications. Phoenix Contact offers wireless solutions that are suitable for industrial applications.

Feel free to communicate about your industrial wireless challenges and requirement.

For more information , kindly visit www.phoenixcontact.com or route your queries to [email protected]

Amandeep