Wireless communication for Industrial devices

 Critical data is generated by Industrial devices such as Auto Reclosures, PLC's, RTU's, Broadcasting stations which needs to be centrally monitored for operations and maintenance control.

 Creating a wireless network may be the only possibility to gather this kind of data as laying physical cables could be too cumbersome due to geographic spread.

Security and reliability of the network is of prime concern for designing the network strategy

Traditional method of using GSM /GPRS modems for these critical applications has proven to be inadequate as the need arose for additional demands from the network such as: 

Getting real time information from the field devices
 Modems are not always on and there are obvious delays in getting the data. This is especially true when critical alerts are generated.

Security and Reliability of the network
Since the data from the field is critical, the wireless network needs to be secured from hacking. The communication needs to be always available to ensure there is no loss of data.

Two way communication
It is often desired to do control action from a central SCADA based on logic and thus a bi directional data transfer is desired not only from field to the central control room but also vice versa.

Easy to setup and maintain
A lot of time can be saved if the wireless network is easy to setup. No field visits are necessary if the field devices can be addressed individually and maintained from the control room itself over a web based interface.

Easy to integrate
Network elements need to have easy integration with different kinds of devices as different interfaces (for instance Ethernet, Serial, etc) and protocols (for instance Modbus, IEC, DNP, etc).

Cost
Additional network costs can be avoided if existing public network as GSM can be utilized.

Viola Systems( www.violasystems.com ) based in Finland have specialized the technology for providing a scalable network from one remote terminal to thousands of terminals and address the above demands.

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