Wireless Introduction and RA Strategy Overview

Agenda

• What problems are we trying to solve?• Application Matrix• Technologies• Strategy Overview• Recommendations• Chief Considerations• Readiness Assessment• Encompass Partners

What problems are we trying to solve?

• Eliminating Wires and Cables– Increase Reliability

• Replace Festoon cables (Moving machinery)– Reduce Installation Cost

• Wireless I/O, Wireless Sensor and mesh networks• Reach great distances (SCADA)• Cross electrical and physical barriers

• Enabling Portability and Mobility– Mobile HMI (People)– AGVs (Equipment)

• Tracking Assets– RFID (Coarse)– RTLS (Fine)

• Combinations– AGVs w/Active RFIDs, etc.

Wireless Application Matrix

HMI Location-Based Services

RFIDMaterial delivery

CBM Modem

SCADAModem

Wireless I/OCrane Control

Cable and Wire Cable and Wire ReplacementReplacement

TrackingTracking

MobileMobile

SensorSensor InformationInformation ControlControl

Wireless Technologies (a snapshot)

Craig Mathais, Farpoint Group

Broadband Everywhere: Putting Mobile Data to WorkSource : http://www.networkworld.com/resources/wirelessandmobility/presentations/keynotemorning.pdf

Wireless Technology Evolution

• Just as Ethernet has evolved from an office network, to a network that could be applied in some industrial applications, to a network suitable for real-time plant floor control today…

Evolution of “wired” Ethernet for control applications

Past Today Future

10M 100M 1000M

Half-duplex Full-duplex

Hubs Switches Enhanced Features

…so too will wireless technology evolve for easily deployable, real-time, plant floor control applications.

Wireless for “real-time” applications is where Ethernet for control applications were 3-

5 years ago. Commercial needs (i.e. Voice over IP) will help drive solutions that can be leveraged by EtherNet/IP.

RA Wireless Strategy Summary

• RA offers wireless solutions by leveraging available COTS and Encompass Partner products and solutions– EtherNet/IP uses standard 802.3 Ethernet and is therefore compatible with standard

wireless infrastructure products and solutions• For wireless LAN applications, promote 802.11 wireless standards

– RA Encompass Partners offer standard and non-standard wireless products and solutions for a broad range of applications

• Services– Offered by Encompass Partners to complement their solutions

• Continue to track wireless technologies and standards– Wireless technology standards continue to evolve– As wireless technologies and standards mature, work closely with customers to identify

requirements and deliver best-in-class solutions• Wireless LAN applications• Wireless I/O applications• Sensor-based applications• Other application-specific products

Recommendations

• Understand where wireless is appropriate– No fully wireless factory (still need power cables) - still many excellent applications– Mostly for information, limited control usage possible today – more in the future ???

• Understand where wireless is beneficial– More efficient workflow

• Access to multiple information sources without travel or second party involvement• Information entry for paperwork reduction, auditing, and alert

– Legacy retrofit for automatic information gathering• Maintenance, temporary or experimental deployment

– Cable replacement for festoon or great distance• Determine IT involvement

– Security, LAN re-use, maintenance • Perform a site survey• Get a partner with industrial wireless packaging and installation

experience

Chief Considerations

• Wireless device power– Battery power– Power scavenging : Vibration, Light– RF power

• Environment compatibility– Indoor/outdoor, temperature,

contaminants, wash-down • Achieving proper coverage

– Antennas / placement, reliable bandwidth, minimize radios, channel usage (3D), redundancy

• Cost– Installation, power, communication,

enclosures

• Data Reliability– Slow updates allow retries– Ensure safe state on link loss

• Transmission reliability– Noise and interference immunity

• Existing wireless, legacy radios, microwave ovens, cordless phones, emerging radios, process, fusion lighting

– Alternative routing paths• Quality of service

– Guaranteed bandwidth– Deterministic transmission delay

• Security– User authentication, Access control, RF

Signal leaks, good antennas can pick up signals from far away

…control of the application or process• Where variance of a few 100ms between packets is unlikely to be within acceptable

limits.• Solutions available, proceed with caution• Recommend consultation

…data collection• Where variance of a few 100ms between packets

is likely to be within acceptable limits.• Solutions readily available, proceed with caution

If the wireless application is for…

…system / device configuration• Where variance of a few 100ms between

packets is not visible to the user.• Solutions readily available

Wireless Application Readiness

EngineeringServer

Machine

AutomationManufacturer

Internet

ProcessServer

Office Plant

IT

EngineeringServer

Machine

AutomationManufacturer

Internet

ProcessServer

EngineeringServer

MachineMachine

AutomationManufacturer

Internet

ProcessServer

Office Plant

IT

Pressure?

Vibration?

Input

Controller

Output

Time

RA Encompass Partner Listings - Modems

• Cisco Systems Inc.– Networking infrastructure (WLANs)– 802.11b Wireless LAN, Modular Wireless Access

Points, high-speed, high-performance outdoor bridging solution for line-of-sight applications

• Control Chief Inc.– Heavy Equipment wireless control, SCADA and RTU

for Industrial and Transportation (Train), Guide Path Vehicle Control

– Wireless, point-to-point/ Multi-node modem for SLC (Backplane Communicatioins). Communicates with ControlChief handheld remote control units.

• Data-Linc Group– SCADA and RTU wireless, fiber and dial-up modems

for Industrial Data Communications– Wireless, point-to-point modem offering serial

connection and/or Ethernet RJ-45• DataRadio Inc.

– SCADA and RTU, remote monitoring, control or wireless data transfer

– Integral wireless modem for data transmission. Programmable. Transmits data real-time without delays at speeds up to 19.2 kbps with enhanced diagnostics.

• Electronic Systems Technology– Remote site monitoring, warehousing, and phone by-

pass applications all around the world. – Wireless, point-to-point modem offering serial

connection and/or Ethernet RJ-45• Millie Applied Research Corporation (MARC)

– PLC dial-up modem-based communications. SCADA and RTU modems - Dialup with triggers to external wireless radio modems

– 1771 module with radio transmitter, Push-to-talk controls (local I/O)

• Microwave Data Systems– SCADA and RTU wireless radio modems– Wireless, point-to-point, point-to-multipoint radio

modem with serial RS232/422• ProSoft Technology

– Communications– Wireless, peer to peer radio modem with serial

RS232/422/485, DF1, EtherNet/IP to Serial, EtherNet/IP to other networks, Ethernet bridge/client/hotspot

Summary

• Wireless is not a good fit for every application– COTS and Encompass Partners products and solutions exist today– Wireless technologies are continuing to evolve that are expanding the

possibilities

• Successful usage requires good planning and management– Understand and address the issues and challenges

• When in doubt, get assistance from knowledgeable sources!