The IEEE 802 family of networking standards comprise a full suite of wired and wireless solutions that are actively being applied to the factories of the future – this broad array of interconnect solutions is helping to shape the future of technological innovation in manufacturing.
As manufacturers continue to morph operations into factories of the future, there is a growing demand for more harmonized systems that account for devices at the edge. Such system would have many benefits, including the elimination of application-level protocol conversions and the firm establishment of a workforce educated in niche protocols, explains George Zimmerman, IEEE Senior Member and IEEE 802 Executive Committee Member.
“In the same way we see standardized Ethernet solutions being developed and/or leveraged, IEEE 802 wireless connectivity standards are poised to play a major role in defining the factories of the future due to wireless technologies’ capabilities focusing on reducing installation costs and providing improved flexibility,” says Zimmerman. “Some possible wireless applications in intelligent manufacturing include equipment control, quality supervision, factory resource management and safety. In addition, there are other wireless solutions that could be leveraged in strategic ways ways to optimize tracking components and sub-assemblies during the manufacturing process.”
John D’Ambrosia, IEEE Member and IEEE 802 Executive Committee Member tells IndustryWeek that it is important to note that there are different wireless technologies that can be used in similar manners.
“IEEE 802.11ax, referred to as Wi-Fi 6, is anticipated as the market successor to 802.11ac, which is currently seen as the most popular of the Wi-Fi family. With improvements in both speed and reach, a wireless LAN could be used to connect thousands of Wi-Fi 6 devices on a single wireless access point with low well-bounded latency,” D’Ambrosia says. “Through this network automation, robotics as well as part tracking and controls could effectively communicate – with the ability to deliver consistent, deterministic quality, the potential impact of Wi-Fi 6 can’t be understated for dense IoT applications, especially when billions of IoT devices are anticipated.”
In the same way that Ethernet is exploding for use in low-speed and high-speed applications, the same is true of wireless networks, explains D’Ambrosia. “IEEE 802.15.4 is used by several IoT protocols and can be thought of as a low data rate wireless connection for IoT,” he says. “It is easy to imagine how such a technology could be used for asset tracking and inventory control systems or even remote sensors for measuring environmental conditions.”
Understanding Obstacles
Most factory floors today leverage a mishmash of connectivity options. When combined with the growing array of applications dependent on stable wireless connections, it is easy to see how coexistence between the various interfaces that may exist in a factory could be an issue.
“Coexistence is clearly an important issue, and IEEE 802.19 develops standards to address the coexistence between wireless standards of unlicensed devices,” says Zimmerman. “Additionally, 802.19 maintains a list of Coexistence Assurance (CA) documents for various IEEE 802 projects; it also keeps track of those IEEE 802 projects that will produce a future CA document.”
Likewise, wireless communications in some factories can be challenged by their inherently severe radio environments that result from the coexistence of uncoordinated and independent systems in the same space. For Wi-Fi 6, trials are underway to validate the infrastructure and services in a factory environment – initial results have been promising.
However, according to D’Ambrosia, the participants of IEEE 802 are driven to develop market relevant, high-quality standards. And, the success of an IEEE 802 standard contributes to the drive to develop enhancements and further improvements in the next standard.
“For example, 802.11 is working on a major project, IEEE 802.11be, for the next generation wireless LAN. This effort will target enhancements and further improvements to enhance throughput, reliability and reduced latency and jitter, as well as improved integration with Time Sensitive Networks (TSN),” he says. “The introduction of a new higher throughput device often leads to future technological innovation. Currently, the standard is projected to be completed in May of 2024, but knowing it is coming will spur on future innovation, as to how this technology can be used in all applications, including in the factories of the future.”
