Optimizing Wireless Technology: Perspectives of the End User

Dick Caro says he has always represented the end user. Unless you have the end-user you won't sell anything. Dick Caro CEO of CMC Associates: Business Strategy & Professional Services Vice President of ARC Advisory Group in Dedham, Massachusetts Chairman of ISA SP50 and formerly of IEC Fieldbus Standards Committees ISA100 Founder and Co-Chair User Working Group Senior Manager with Arthur D. Little, Inc. in Cambridge, MA Founder of Autech Data Systems Director of Marketing at ModComp The Foxboro Company BS and MS in Chemical Engineering, and an MBA ISA Fellow Certified Automation Professional Process Automation Hall of Fame Authored 3 books on automation networks Data Sources: ISA100 WG8 - User Requirements document Control Magazine survey Jan-July 2007 (almost 500 responses) InTech Magazine market study - ongoing ISA100 Use Cases ISA100 presentations and sessions Direct user interviews Personal experience Topics: User industry profile Current wireless applications Density of instrumentation Future wireless applications Host integration of wireless networks Legacy wired networks Factors influencing wireless networks in automation Powering wireless field devices Latency requirements Dick went through the Control study, modifying as per his own experience and his own interviews. Most users view wireless for monitoring and alerting A few visualize use for control Alerting gives a clue for actual applications When an alert becomes an alarm Scanning is now more frequent Priority increases Cannot wait for seconds/minutes before reporting an alarm Implies device must originate alarms User worries: Coexistence/interference especially at 2.4 GHz Multiple protocols sharing the same bandwidth ISA100 WirelessHART WiFi Bluetooth Microwave ovens in control rooms Cordless telephones Jamming of 2.4 GHz spectrum Terrorism Sabotage Network privacy Conclusions: Most users visualize wireless for monitoring and alerting A few plan to eventually use wireless for control Users want a single protocol for the plant wireless network Many wireless applications are new - not previously measured with wired instruments Use of wireless networks is very important to most users Battery life is important, but not critical Reliability and security are critical