Make Your Factory Wireless? NIST Can Guide You!

Through its Wireless Systems for Industrial Environments project, NIST is working with private-sector collaborators and standards organizations to overcome these obstacles and make industrial wireless communication the first choice for factories.The document provides valuable background, strategies and tools that help users:

• Understand wireless technologies and networking basics, including a glossary of terms, a review of radio frequency (RF) considerations and a list of technical challenges (such as latency, the time it takes for data to go from source to target);
• Make a business case for wireless;
• Break down the components of a complete wireless lifecycle, from the first defining of objectives to deployment and monitoring of the final system;
• Use wireless to enhance factory safety;
• Protect and secure a wireless network;
• Learn about best wireless practices such as optimal antenna placement, getting around obstructions and interference problems, and preventing redundant signal paths; and
• Follow a set of easy-to-use checklists for each element of the wireless deployment lifecycle, including evaluating the factory and its operations for communications needs, comparing available technologies, and methodically designing and deploying a working wireless system.

A series of best-practice case studies completes the guide, showing what strategies can be used to improve and optimize wireless in different factory situations.

Publication: R. Candell, M. Hany, K.B. Lee, Y. Liu, J. Quimby and K. Remley. Guide to Industrial Wireless Systems Deployments (NIST Advanced Manufacturing Series 300-4), May 2018. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.AMS.300-4