IoT Heterogeneous Mesh Network Deployment for Human-in-the-Loop Challenges Towards a Social and Sustainable Industry 4.0

Abstract

This paper encourages the cooperation of different Internet of Things technologies in industrial environments for avoiding social disruption in novel Industry 4.0 paradigms. For this, green I3A smart factory (GreenISF) scenario is presented, where the deployment of a collaborative mesh network based on Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and long range wide-area network (LoRaWAN) technologies promotes human–machine collaboration towards socially sustainable factories. In order to encourage human-centric architectures in such environments, our smart wristband prototype OperaBLE is introduced in this paper as key enabler for human-in-the-loop systems. Thus, the network deployed in GreenISF is composed of body area networks which monitor labor activity and reinforce security at work by embedding sensors in regulatory industrial clothes. These networks cooperate with our BLE mesh infrastructure aimed to fulfill the major challenges Industry 4.0: zero fails, total coverage, and sustainability. Furthermore, a context information network based on LoRaWAN complements our mesh network to provide the system with valuable environmental data and prevent operators from harmful workplaces. The system is connected to a fog server responsible for preprocessing raw data that will be stored in a global cloud server. The experiments carried out highlight the contribution of OperaBLE towards safer working conditions and a sustainable digitalization of Industry 4.0.