A toe in the water, or a foot through the GLASS? Wireless technology breaks from its remote-monitoring origins to control applications

摘要

MACHINES DIDN'T USED to talk much to the outside world, but strong interest in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 has and continues to change that. Wired communication to field I/O, machine-to-machine and the plant network is now common, but where does wireless fit in with machine builders, OEMs and system integrators? There are many considerations when using wireless in a machine control or monitoring application. In some cases, it just has to be used due to application requirements; in other cases, it could be used but isn't. Fears, realities and lack of need for wireless connectivity reduces usage in yet other cases. In most instances, end-user interest, best practices and common, accepted and understood uses drive wireless applications as vendors continue to advance wireless hardware.