Thursday 23 May 2013

The advantages of automation mixed with wireless technology

By Todd Smith


In modern times the demand for wireless technologies has been growing rapidly, including in the automation industry. There are so very many potential applications in manufacturing that the sheer options can become overwhelming. The key has a sound plan 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 a few common applications for wireless technology in the automation industry. One is easy monitoring. This frequently eradicates the necessity for a human eye. Over a period of time that may save a company cash. Think about inventory control as a superb example, including remote inventories. Especially in established firms this becomes a difficult task for workers doing it by hand. Having a wireless, automated application simplifies everything and also provides greater accuracy.

Another excellent application for wireless monitoring is for identifying issues with energy consumption 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 applies to pipeline instrumentation. The wireless automatic system can track remote info consistently.

Having asserted all that, there are limits. Some control processes simply aren't fitted to underlying wireless net requirements. The key here is how swiftly the wireless system provides response, and what reply time is necessary. In these time sensitive circumstances, hard-wiring remains the right way to go.

The easiest way to know for sure if your automation systems suit the wireless world is by checking your present substructure. What needs to be added to that sub-structure to deal with the wireless service insuring proper performance? Those elements must be part of your position and your planning process. Think of this like laying a foundation to a building. Every time-honoured stone should be solid and placed in the required order, especially if you selected mesh networking. The great part of this design is that every device communicates with each other device in the network, and can also become a router if it is necessary. As you expand the number of sensors in this system, the father your wifi network stretches.

What about overall axioms for wireless technology in automation? There have been steps made here too. The industry standards is known as WirelessHART. These standards provide protocols for a wide-range of wireless communications. While this is no means a unified standard, it's a start.






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