Wireless Factory

Overview

Wireless Factory

In order to realise a smart factory manufacturing companies are now looking for new technologies that can deliver ultra-low latency, high bandwidth and reliable communication, with 5G being a cornerstone of this.

Through wireless connectivity, almost every asset in a factory can be connected and managed to solve operational challenges through the use of predictive data models, and machine learning, etc ultimately allowing better alignment between the IT and OT domains.

Key Research Questions

Significant research challenges exist in connectivity speed, latency, security, stability and robustness of wireless networks
Merging operational information and communication technologies with cyber-physical systems.
Identifying & overcoming the specific infrastructure and environmental inhibitors, which limit site/plant connectivity.

Scientific Challenges

Modelling wireless sensor networks with 10,000+ nodes
Development of 5G networks
Development of wireless energy harvesting sensors

Targeted Industry Sectors

Med Tech
Pharma
Engineering
Food & Bev

Key Industry Impacts

The interconnectivity of assets and better communication of data yields increases in equipment flexibility, plant productivity and resource efficiency,
Improvements in working capital & supply chain processes. efficiency of warehousing and supply-chains.

Networking Systems & IOT
Sensors, wireless sensor networks
Robotics & Control
Data Analytics

Networking of Brownfield equipment, improved equipment interconnectivity, faster decision making, improved data capture capability, working capital optimisation

Overview