On Ad Hoc Communication in Industrial Environments

Christian Sauer,Marco Schmidt,Eike Lyczkowski

doi:10.3390/app10249126

Christian Sauer, Marco Schmidt + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app10249126

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Abstract

Wireless communication is becoming vital in the industrial environment. New communication technologies, including ad hoc communication, are researched for this application. A thorough understanding regarding the connection characteristics of industrial networks could benefit this trend. In this work it was possible to record the time-variant network topology of such a network utilizing a novel method. Using this method and the generated recordings, novel insights into the behavior of industrial ad hoc networks are presented. The recorded time-variant topology, the tools and method of acquisition, and tools for processing and examination are published. This enables researchers and engineers to check their communication technologies in terms of applicability to the industrial use case and record more network topologies in a wide variety of wireless networking scenarios.

Highlights

Trends like Industry 4.0 are shaping the factory of the future
Researchers are investigating the possibility of utilizing ad hoc communication (e.g., Mesh [2] or Delay Tolerant Networks (DTNs) [3]) for communication in Automated guided vehicles (AGVs)
It is hypothesized that the necessary base assumption for the nodal encounter pattern (NEP) extraction from network traces is not applicable to the industrial scenario

Summary

Introduction

Trends like Industry 4.0 are shaping the factory of the future. Flexibility and mobility are central requirements for future production facilities. Wireless communication plays a central part in enabling mobility and facilitating flexibility [1]. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) for example, depend on wireless communication systems. Researchers are investigating the possibility of utilizing ad hoc communication (e.g., Mesh [2] or Delay Tolerant Networks (DTNs) [3]) for communication in AGVs. The research and implementation of wireless and ad hoc networks, in particular, would benefit from a thorough understanding of the wireless channel in industrial environments or the ability to simulate this use case. Further practical research is needed [4]

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