SUMMARY
Industry 4.0 and increasing automation are revolutionizing the manufacturing industry. With each innovative technology developed, less and less human intervention is required in the daily operation of factories. The benefits of automation are multiple: it eliminates human errors, increases productivity, reduces costs and acquires valuable data for future optimization. This is why the global industrial automation market is growing exponentially and is expected to exceed US$200 billion next year.
CHALLENGE
In automated IoT solutions, machines and equipment are connected into a single functional system. As a result, all processes can be further streamlined and optimized by implementing data-driven changes. Naturally, automation requires reliable and secure internet connectivity that allows devices to communicate with each other in real time, and enables remote monitoring and management of smart factory systems.
Facilities as large as factories require specialized network infrastructure. With the growth of the e-commerce sector, manufacturing facilities have more than doubled on average over the past two decades. This means that the usual connectivity solution would not be enough to cover such large areas.
SOLUTION
The factory connectivity solution requires robust professional routers capable of meeting the challenges of an industrial environment. Naturally, each device can only cover a limited area with the desired signal strength. For this reason, several RUTX10 Ethernet routers were installed to enable sufficiently strong Wi-Fi and ensure seamless operation of all computers and machines. Although setting up one router requires few computing resources, setting up several to create a secure network can become a time- and energy-consuming project. In such cases, creating a Wi-Fi Mesh network might be your best solution.
The 802.11s standard available in RutOS allows you to connect various wireless equipment without setting up complicated infrastructure. Mesh Wi-Fi makes setup quick and easy. All you have to do is configure a router and apply the same properties to the rest of the network via a user-friendly web interface. Additionally, if a node in the network fails or goes offline, the mesh network will self-heal and continue its route to the next node until the problem is resolved. In this way, network continuity remains uninterrupted and processes can continue as before. 
Since the factory topology includes moving objects (like autonomous forklifts), this adds another challenge: they require a rapid transition between one router and another. This is where 802.11r support (aka Fast Roaming) comes in to save the day. With Fast Roaming, autonomous mobile machines can move around production facilities and communicate seamlessly, quickly switching between routers on the same network.
BENEFITS
- Equipped with dual-band Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac, RUTX10 delivers high data transmission and robust wireless performance.
- Multiple supported protocols, including MQTT, Modbus, Bluetooth and DNP3, make this router suitable for industrial automation solutions.
- The solution is easily scalable thanks to the simplicity of configuring the Wi-Fi Mesh network.
- Advanced security features, such as multiple VPN choices, firewall, access control and others, ensure uncompromised system operation.
- The solution can be monitored and managed remotely with the Teltonika Networks Remote Management System (RMS).
- The router's industrial aluminum housing ensures it withstands harsh environments and offers convenient mounting options.
WHY Teltonika networks?
Teltonika Networks specializes in connectivity for industrial IoT solutions. Although our portfolio has evolved into a more comprehensive offering of networking products over the years, industrial and automation solutions have been our primary area of focus and the continuing source of know-how and expertise that helped them grow. Having been part of so many different solutions has allowed us to develop our hardware and continually improve our software to achieve the maximum potential of Teltonika Networks products.
A question? A need? Our sales teams are at your disposal at 02.51.99.13.03 or by email at contact@sparwan.com.
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