Industrial networks have evolved to become an integral part of manufacturing replacing the point-to-point communication at all levels. At lower levels in the plant/factory setup, networks provide higher reliability, visibility and diagnosability and enable capabilities such as distributed control, diagnostics, safety and device interoperability. At higher levels networks can leverage internet services to enable factory-wide automated scheduling, control, and diagnostics; improve data storage and visibility; and opens the door to e-manufacturing.
Generally control networks can replace the traditional point-to-point wired systems while providing a number of advantages:
- The Foremost and simplest advantage is the reduced volume of wiring. Fewer physical potential points of failure, such as connectors and wires result in increased reliability.
- Another key advantage is that networks enable complex distributed control systems to be realized in both horizontal (e.g. peer-to-peer coordinated control amongst sensors and actuators) and vertical (e.g. machine to cell to system-level control) directions.
- Lastly, networks provide increased capability for troubleshooting and maintenance enhanced interchangeability and interoperability of devices, improved reconfigurability of control systems, and ease of integration of web service-based capabilities such as cloud systems.
Related: What is Fieldbus in Industrial Communication Networks?
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