Section: Application Domains

Industrial Process Automation

Wireless networks have become ubiquitous and are an integral part of our daily lives. These networks are present in many application domains; the most important are detailed in this section.

Networks in industrial process automation typically perform monitoring and control tasks. Wired industrial communication networks, such as HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer), have been around for decades and, being wired, are highly reliable. Network administrators tempted to “go wireless” expect the same reliability. Reliable process automation networks – especially when used for control – often impose stringent latency requirements. Deterministic wireless networks can be used in critical systems such as control loops, however, the unreliable nature of the wireless medium, coupled with their large scale and “ad-hoc” nature raise some of the most important challenges for low-power wireless research over the next 5-10 years.

Through the involvement of team members in standardization activities, the protocols and techniques will be proposed for the standardization process with a view to becoming the de-facto standard for wireless industrial process automation. Besides producing top level research publications and standardization activities, EVA intends this activity to foster further collaborations with industrial partners.