Automation is striding fast into the realm of IoT. Physical devices are becoming more and more interconnected with newer devices. And Industrial Wireless Control Systems (WCS) are at the core of this development.
WCS helps control small and large machines in the assembly line via the internet for expeditious and precise production.
These control systems give an edge in providing wider coverage, flexibility, safety, increased productivity, cost saving, and mobility. WCS are being improved periodically to take on heavy loads without compromising on field safety.
How They Work
As with traditional devices, WCS have remote controls that emanate radio waves to the processors they are designed to control. But unlike traditional remotes, radio frequencies emanated by WCS are higher and have wider radii of operation.
It can operate flawlessly even under heavy disturbances.
Siemens, Rockwell and Honeywell are some of the major pioneers in this technology.
Sectors of Applications
Wireless Control Systems are being used for different applications in virtually all industrial sectors imaginable, including manufacture line control, packaging line control, aircraft and fighter jet refueling, petroleum and petrochemical, oil & gas, fuel leak detection, and excavators and crane control.
WCS are also being used in explosive environments and other hazardous industrial ecosystems. Proportional hydraulic systems, industrial petroleum sectors, anhydrous ammonia or LPG bulk transports, electronic industries, propane tanks and liquid nitrogen tanks are few examples.
1. Remote control systems these days are widely used in fuel transport leak detection. Automatic leak detection systems can inspect leaks from anhydrous ammonia or propane tanks. The low-powered unit can also monitor different types of hose assemblies and piping during loading and unloading processes.
2. Emergency shutdown is another popular use for wireless control system. This has been developed to avoid using manual emergency shutdown switches, hatches and hand wiring. The control system can be surrounded by any number of radio transmitters within an area of 1000 feet. The benefit is that there is no need to change any of the already available safety equipment.
3. Wireless control systems can also act as driver authorization systems to prevent the unauthorized movement of commercial vehicles through any protected enclosure or open region. These controls can be used alongside existing security systems.
4. Wireless control systems are also used for aircraft refueling on ground or mid-air. These systems, in refueling stations, often are fitted with a frequency hopping spread spectrum technology to block any interference.
With further improvements and innovations, the use and applicability of WCS is only set to grow and take over almost all major industries.
