Industrial Communication " A Three Step Rocket

Abstract

We currently experience a major evolution step in the connectivity space, a step which will have substantial impact on the future industrial communication networks. New services will become affordable, new solutions will be possible, but there are also new challenges ahead. Previously, the take up of both IP/Ethernet and IEEE 802.15.4 in the industrial domains, gave a similar boost into the industrial communication. And well before that, the serial fieldbuses made their entrance into industrial systems, and these installations are to a large extent still in use. The ongoing development of Ethernet TSN (Time Sensitive Networks) and 5G (the next generation telecommunication standard), supported by technologies like AI (Artificial Intelligence) will be the third major evolution phase for industrial communication, and it will highly impact the future industrial communication the next years to come. In this talk I will analyze the applications that can make benefit of TSN and 5G, and what the main challenges are to reach them. The talk will also address what we should learn from the two previous evolution phases and how that will influence the future connectivity research and development. Additionally, the traditional industries no longer develop everything on their own as they used to do, the development speed and business climate instead emphasize collaborations with partners, academia and startup companies. Some examples on how this can be accomplished will also be presented.