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Today's toughest communication challenges

WiFi network devices offer ruggedised equipment aimed at the heavy industrial sector.

Andy Robb
By Andy Robb, Technology specialist at Duxbury Networking.
Johannesburg, 04 Jul 2014

There is a seismic shift within the heavy industrial sector towards modern computerised systems in order to boost efficiencies, reduce wastage and improve decision-making through enhanced data analytics. This has led to the incorporation of more 'intelligence' in computer systems serving the mining, manufacturing, oil, steel, transport, construction and allied sectors, where the emphasis is now on advanced communications between devices, systems and operators via modern wireless networks.

In this light, many industrial sites pose challenges to this movement, associated with the vastness of the areas they span. Opencast mines covering large areas are a prime example. Here the data communication demands are far more complex and multifaceted than those common to the average office building.

Office-oriented networks are static in nature. A wireless network access point, for example, can be sited accurately and do duty for a number of years without any need for it to be moved.

On the other hand, in the mine there may be a dragline excavator that moves up to 50 metres every day. Communication for its management systems has to be facilitated. There are also vehicles on site - bucket excavators and dump trucks and the like - that have the ability to continually interfere with wireless signals.

Of equal concern are the severe environments associated with industrial sites where vibration, dust, harsh weather conditions and rust (particularly in marine applications) are constant hazards and threats to computerised equipment and communication devices. Building networks in these locations is becoming increasingly demanding.

Rough and rugged

Fortunately for network resellers and installers, certain vendors of WiFi network devices are today offering 'ruggedised' equipment aimed at the heavy industrial arena. They are making network access points, antennae, cameras, sensors and other key equipment capable of withstanding the challenges of the environments in which they'll find themselves for indeterminate periods of time.

Understandably, the design, installation and integration of wireless networks involved in heavy industrial settings is a daunting task to undertake, requiring the skills and expertise of appropriately trained technicians for success. This is particularly true in new technology applications focusing on machine-to-machine communications.

With burgeoning WiFi access networks comes the task of 'backhauling' data from the networks' edge to management stations and communication centres at its core.

In these sites, the health and operations viability of the network are maintained by those who keep watch on vital issues such as roundtrip delay (latency) in the network, bandwidth availability and how the network responds to the stressful conditions associated with heavy industrial applications.

In addition to the wellbeing of the communications infrastructure, management will analyse and use the information garnered to keep an eye on productivity targets, the ongoing safety associated with the on-site equipment and the overall welfare of the workforce at any given time.

Vibration, dust, harsh weather conditions and rust are constant hazards and threats to computerised equipment.

The more intelligent the system, the greater the accuracy of the results and the more data generated. Increased data levels demand more capacity from the backhaul network infrastructure. Due to the itinerant nature of many industrial sites, it is often impossible to build robust permanent wired or wireless backhaul structures with conventional network fixtures.

Getting smarter

One of the solutions is to make use of cellular networks for this application. This demand has resulted in substantial innovation permeating the design, manufacture and installation of ruggedised communication devices earmarked for this task.

Innovation is also key to the design of short-distance wireless communication devices, particularly around emerging ZigBee and Z-wave wireless protocols and standards.

These protocols facilitate 'smarter' uses of wireless networks to allow control of more equipment, from automated production line robots to quality monitoring devices, by allowing them to communicate with one another. They also permit communication directly with shop floor managers and supervisors via their smartphones and tablets.

Significantly, these protocols are also at the core of the 'smart city' movement, allowing municipalities to remotely read electricity and water meters and more efficiently supply and control power resources.

Wireless communication technology innovations have not been lost on the growing number of alternative energy suppliers too, particularly in the renewable sector where solar energy and wind turbine farms are using new-generation systems to ensure optimal productivity and efficiency.

Innovation is also entering the home, where consumers are using technology breakthroughs to make 'intelligent' household products, like lights, door locks and air-conditioning thermostats. In this way, householders are gaining greater control of everyday activities by using their regular cellphones, tablets or PCs, all the while saving money and reducing carbon emissions.

These developments are a clear indication that the British technology pioneer Kevin Ashton's vision of the 'Internet of things' - a term he coined 15 years ago to describe a system where the Internet is connected to the physical world via ubiquitous sensors - is now finally a reality.

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