Computer communication in modern factories can be considered complex due to its heterogeneity, various demands of timing, large datasets and countless timeseries, as well as needs for context oriented data handling. The paths, content and time requirements of the data flow may vary due to the flexibility of production, current settings, location on the shop floor, and the temporary nature of some Machine-To-Machine dialogues. Sometimes, because of mutable but indispensable interoperability of various subsystems, the application relationships between nodes must be established as transient, on-demand only, and without wired infrastructure. In this case, ad-hoc wireless networks are required, and awareness of radio link reliability is essential due to inevitable disturbances and general real-time and dependability requirements. Against this background, an analysis of a temporary and short distance wireless channel between two nodes is presented in the paper. It was carried out briefly theoretically and thoroughly empirically based on delay measurement on the link layer of IEEE802.15.4, Bluetooth 5, and WiFi 4. The results allow to determine the scope of applicability of this type of pseudo-deterministic low level connection and depict the guidelines for communication design.

Automatic guided vehicles are increasingly used in factories. It is obvious that wireless communication with this type of devices is necessary. By default, transmissions are not based on time-deterministic behavior. However, as communication requirements increase, especially for collaborative functions and the need to exchange large and diverse data sets, on-board and off-board systems must be connected directly. This results in time constraints requirements coming from a given direct connection. The article presents and compares the concept and models of traffic management based on time division and access control methods. The created models can be useful for calculating the time characteristics of information delivery and thus for designing communication systems.

ptimization of delivery of goods to production stations spread on factory floors has led to creation of Automated Guided Vehicles AGV. Latter it evolved to AGVs equipped with collaborative robots implemented to automate the process of loading and unloading of the transported goods. To make the operation of AGVs efficient it is needed to exchange data with higher level system like Manufacturing Execution Systems MES and Transport Management Systems TMS. The data is needed also to increase the energy efficiency of AGVs and their availability by implementation of predictive maintenance procedures. To make it possible processing of big data sets describing the change of the state of AGV’s in time is necessary. But first, the data has to be gathered using reliable wireless communication link that are shared with real-time protocols used for integration with production stations and collaboration with them. The paper considers a solution based on EtherCAT network with application of Ethernet over EtherCAT EoE communication profile for tunneling of OPC UA traffic.

Modern industrial systems require more and more flexibility and mobility; furthermore the quantity of data generated by them is great. In some cases, classical wired networks are not feasible due to the type of device itself (e.g., AGV) or its location. In such cases wireless communication is the only solution. The then, the choice of appropriate communication protocol, especially in an industrial system, is crucial. The paper presents an approach of using a wireless connection in EtherCAT network, which in principle is a wired solution. Therefore, for wireless communication upper layer protocol has to be implemented. Here, Software Defined Networks SDN technology is used. SDN allows for dynamic and programmable infrastructure management and monitoring of network traffic. The proposed solution was compared in terms of performance to a standard wired connection. To do this research and confirm the theoretical assumptions industrial devices like PLC controllers, remote IO stations and servo drives were used. The paper shows limitations resulting from this type of communication and the possibility to reduce their significance.