Survey predicts boom in industrial wireless
An
IMS Research product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Nov 18, 2002
A new study from IMS Research predicts strong growth for industrial wireless networks over the coming years.
A new study from IMS Research predicts strong growth for industrial wireless networks over the coming years.
In fact some 42.7% of the respondents to a survey of automation product users expected to use wireless radio networks in industrial (ie not office) applications within the next three years.
Wireless radiocommunication is by no means new to the industrial sector and has been used for many years.
However, so far it has mainly been used in a small number of specialist applications, such as long-range telemetry and radio remote control.
One of the main reasons for this has been the lack of a low-cost globally standardised wireless technology that is suitable for industrial applications.
Instead companies in need of a wireless solution have had to use proprietary wireless technologies.
With the increasing availability of automation products that utilise off-the-shelf wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth, wireless LAN and cellular, this is starting to change.
IMS Research senior analyst Simon Harris points out that "because no single wireless technology suits all needs, users must select the most appropriate for their application.
Wireless LAN, and in particular 802.11b, is currently the technology of choice for mobile computing applications such as notebook PCs and webpads.
It is a proven technology with a large installed base in home and office applications".
Wireless LAN also appears to have the support of industrial customers since well over half of the respondents to IMS Research's recent survey perceived that the technology was suitable for industrial applications.
Harris continues, "Bluetooth is particularly suited to wireless sensor applications due to its lower cost and power consumption.
The net cost to sensor manufacturers of adding Class 1 Bluetooth, including radio and baseband components, should fall below the $10 mark next year.
Its low power consumption means that the wired power supply can be replaced by a local source of power, such as batteries, enabling full wireless mobility".
In the case of cellular networks, such as GSM and CDMA, companies are making use of SMS (Short Message Service) text messaging and WAP mobile Internet so that a standard mobile phone can be used to receive alarm messages, request data from controllers and even directly modify data within the controller.
This means that data can be collected from controllers anywhere in the world as long as there is access to the cellular network.
Harris is also quick to point out the limitation of wireless networks: "today's wireless technologies do not offer the high transmission rates, data security and deterministic performance of a wired network, and so will only be used in select applications where they add extra functionality or save money.
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