Wireless Factory Automation and Process Flyer0 pages
Wireless Factory Automation
and Process Control
technologies offer a way to cost-effectively add video
information to the control and monitoring system.
Finally, wireless technologies have expanded beyond
traditional serial and Ethernet networks, and to other
industrial networks and protocols. Wireless solutions
are now available for PROFIBUS and HART permitting
remote sensors and actuators to be connected to the
main control system (PLC or DCS) without the need for
hardwiring.
Factory Automation and Process Control
Wireless plays an important role in factories and
processing plants. Industries such as consumer goods
manufacturing, metals, automotive, pharmaceutical,
food processing, packaging and material handling can
benefit greatly from wireless technologies.
Wireless is also an excellent solution for communication
to controllers on moving platforms for material handling
systems such as overhead cranes, automatic guided
vehicles (AGVs), transfer cars, turntables and conveyor
systems. Wireless provides high speed communications
(such as for Ethernet) while not suffering from
mechanical wear and tear as wiring harnesses,
festooning, inductive rails and slip rings commonly do.
Wireless is a great strategy to improve production by
eliminating downtime.
Video is becoming an important part of industrial
systems both for remote surveillance (security) and
remote process monitoring. High speed wireless
Wireless plays an important role in factories and
processing plants. Industries such as consumer goods
manufacturing, metals, automotive, pharmaceutical,
food processing, packaging and material handling can
benefit greatly from wireless technologies. Tangible
benefits include cost reduction, more reliable control/
processing systems and improved worker productivity.
Wireless technologies may be used to build a plantwide wireless network connecting mobile workers to
the production and/or business network. Maintenance
workers can now access important data (such as a PLC
program or recipe) while observing a malfunctioning
device or inefficient process. In-rack wireless modules
connect remote PLCs to the wireless network,
expanding the devices available on the wireless
network.
Wireless is also an excellent solution for communication
to controllers on moving platforms for material handling
systems such as overhead cranes, automatic guided
vehicles (AGVs), transfer cars, turntables and conveyor
systems. Wireless provides high speed communications
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