A dual-radio approach for reliable emergency signaling in critical infrastructure assets with large wireless networks

Abstract

Wireless communications techniques are finding their way into industrial applications, but commercial wireless technologies lack the dependability required for critical applications in very large networks. In many wireless-controlled industrial facilities, safety regulations mandate real-time communications for tasks such as emergency shutdowns. This requires a wireless communications architecture that supports the coexistence of non-real-time and real-time tasks. To address this requirement, this paper proposes an architecture that augments a wireless mesh network with a unidirectional long-range communications system. Various configuration parameters of the system, including its security features, are optimized. Additionally, a physical realization of the architecture is evaluated using a series of experiments, including some performed on a real solar tower power plant. The experimental results demonstrate that the extension of a wireless mesh network with a unidirectional long-range communications system provides safety and scalability for industrial applications while promoting cost effectiveness and energy efficiency.