Friday 17 May 2013

Going Wireless in Automation Industry

By Todd Smith


In modern times the demand for wireless technologies has been growing rapidly, including in the automation industry. There are that many potential applications in manufacturing the sheer options can become overpowering. The key is having a sound plan for wireless applications, realising that some systems benefit from hard-wiring, and that hard-wiring also makes an excellent 'back up ' plan for when a wireless system goes down.

There are many common applications for wireless technology in the automation industry. One is straightforward monitoring. This regularly eradicates the necessity for a human eye. Over a period that may save a company money. Think about inventory control as a good example, including remote inventories. Especially in substantial companies this becomes an arduous task for workers doing it by hand. Having a wireless, automated application simplifies everything and also provides greater accuracy.

Another glorious application for wireless monitoring is for identifying issues with energy usage and management. By pinpointing variables in say gas usage a company can then find ways to lower consumption (again saving money). The same kind of monitoring is applicable to pipeline instrumentation. The wireless mechanical system can track remote information habitually.

Having said all that, there are limits. Some control processes simply are not fitted to underlying wifi network requirements. The key here is how quickly the wireless system provides response, and what reply time is required. In these time delicate eventualities, hard-wiring remains the way to go.

The simplest way to know for certain if your automation systems suit the wireless world is by checking your present infrastructure. What must be added to that sub-structure to deal with the wireless service insuring correct performance? Those elements must be part of your budget and your planning process. Think about this like laying a foundation to a building. Every well-known stone must be solid and placed in the required order, particularly if you selected mesh networking. The great part of this design is that every device communicates with every other device in the network, and can also become a router if it is necessary. 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 have been steps made here too. The industry standards is known as WirelessHART. These standards provide customs for a wide-range of wireless communications. While this is no means a unified standard, it's a start.






About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment