The installed base of wireless IoT devices in industrial automation
July 2015
News
According to a new research report from Berg Insight, the installed base of wireless IoT devices in industrial automation reached 10.3 million in 2014. The number of wireless IoT devices in automation networks will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.2% to reach 43.5 million by 2020.
There is a wide range of wireless technology used in industrial automation with different characteristics and use cases. 802.15.4 based standards such as WirelessHART and ISA100.11a are major contenders at the field level in process automation networks. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are the most widespread technologies in factory automation while cellular connectivity typically is used for remote monitoring and backhaul communication between plants. The increasing popularity of Ethernet based networks in factory automation is one of the key drivers for the popularity of Wi-Fi in such applications. Increased usage of standard devices such as tablets and smartphones in, for example, mobile HMI solutions is also an important driver for the adoption of Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth in automation equipment.
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