On your mobiles!
29 Jan 2007
Wireless offers major potential to enhance the performance of process plants; giving operators access to data that was previously too difficult and/or commercially infeasible to collect.
Moreover, there seem few real technical or commercial barriers to the widespread adoption of the technology. As ARC Research analyst Harry Forbes recently commented: "Most field devices, especially most field measurement devices, could eventually become wireless."
Some highlight the current intense debate about standards and point back to how years of argument have hindered uptake of Fieldbus technology. The big difference with wireless, though, is that it does not require major investment to introduce.
Wireless systems can be put in on a pilot basis to enable end users to get comfortable with the network. As they recognise opportunities to save money versus wired systems and/or get some better information, operators can gradually move on to bigger projects.
It is worth noting also that wireless technology, wireless standards and, for that matter, battery technology are largely driven by developments in areas such as telecommunications and electronics, which are essentially outside the control of the process industry.
While the standards issue is very important, the priority for operators is to maximise the value of wireless and the information it provides. So, get on the mobile to your suppliers.
Moreover, there seem few real technical or commercial barriers to the widespread adoption of the technology. As ARC Research analyst Harry Forbes recently commented: "Most field devices, especially most field measurement devices, could eventually become wireless."
Some highlight the current intense debate about standards and point back to how years of argument have hindered uptake of Fieldbus technology. The big difference with wireless, though, is that it does not require major investment to introduce.
Wireless systems can be put in on a pilot basis to enable end users to get comfortable with the network. As they recognise opportunities to save money versus wired systems and/or get some better information, operators can gradually move on to bigger projects.
It is worth noting also that wireless technology, wireless standards and, for that matter, battery technology are largely driven by developments in areas such as telecommunications and electronics, which are essentially outside the control of the process industry.
While the standards issue is very important, the priority for operators is to maximise the value of wireless and the information it provides. So, get on the mobile to your suppliers.
