Designing Robust Wireless Communications for Factory Floors

Abstract

Summary form only given. The tutorial is aimed at teaching the underlying aspects of short-range, wireless RF-links (of WLAN and WPAN specifications) that are considered in the state-of-the-art factory informatic communication applications. Such wireless links on industrial floors may prevail across a variety of end-entities such as computer hosts, robots, sensor-mounted autonomous moving units (in production series), and roaming workers with PDAs. Ideally, relevant connectivity should conform to robust performance despite of harsh electromagnetic environment and mutual interference (due to co-location) inherent to industrial floors. At the same time, these connections should be economically viable and operate on low-power budgets. Based on service classes, their range is specified -from a meter to 100 meters. Interoperability with other communication (wireline or wireless) systems and feasibility of extension into inter- and/or intra networking of the factory could be another set of desirable features. Retrofit considerations, compact size of the radio units, portability and ad hoc networking are other aspects of forward-looking factory communication perspectives. Starting from the aforesaid underlying concepts, a step-by-step tracing of working principles of these RF links vis- -vis factory communications will be aimed at in the tutorial lectures. The associated prospects of the upcoming technology conceived to bring about the existence of a broad range of interoperable factory-based devices through open-industry specifications on unlicensed, untethered peripheral and control unit that operate on low-cost and low-power budgets and enabling communications between complaint devices anywhere in and around an indoor factory environment will be elaborated. Hence the RFI compatibility issues and design aspects of making the links robust via diversity techniques will be indicated.