Industrial Control Applications
with Airborne™ Embedded Wireless Device Server Modules and Radios

Airborne™ Embedded Wireless Device Server (Serial to Wireless LAN) Modules and Radios are a highly-integrated solution that allows manufacturers to quickly “drop-in” wireless connectivity to a broad range of industrial control equipment in as little as six weeks. The wireless module is web-enabled and eliminates the need for a cable connection making a wide array of sensor, data acquisition, factory automation or security equipment more streamlined and accessible through the Internet.

Factory automation tools equipped with an Airborne module can transmit data via an 802.11b wireless access point to the LAN. Information is then sent directly to network-connected display monitors located in a control room, an engineer’s office, or remote locations. Display stations would be able to gather data and monitor performance of multiple factory tools and equipment.

For example, industrial equipment with embedded control sensors and an Airborne module can:

• Be monitored from a central control location, a service center technician’s WiFi-enabled PDA, or the web
• Provide a service center technician with access to individual control systems
• Allow the installation or relocation of equipment without reconfiguration
• Share data with factory floor monitors, other departments or remote facilities
• Send alert messages to maintenance technicians or other personnel via
  email or text messaging, or send alarm conditions to factory monitors
• Be accessed remotely to set alarm or control points or monitoring conditions
• Be controlled remotely by other devices or control other devices
  

Industrial control applications that are suitable to integrate an Airborne module include:

• Sensors
• Refrigeration Control Units
• Factory Automation
• HVAC Building Controls
• SCADA, MMI, HID
• Process Controls

Coordinated data sharing becomes possible when multiple systems are equipped with the Airborne module. Preventative maintenance is improved because diagnostic information is readily available.

The module is interoperable with industry standard 802.11 access points and advanced security standards such as WEP, WPA and LEAP, that provide a low cost infrastructure for connection to a LAN and to the Internet.

Development and Factory Floor Benefits

During development, Airborne is easy to integrate into new and existing designs and gives OEMS a highly integrated solution to quickly differentiates their products. By reducing development time, it lowers costs and facilitates faster time to market. The 802.11 standard supports a high data rate and works with standard enterprise software that is ideal for many industrial control application situations.

With more accurate real-time data, manufacturers achieve increased efficiency and improved processes on the factory floor. In addition, the capture and recording of information helps resolve equipment issues before they become huge and costly problems.

Quicker response time leads to improved customer service and satisfaction. Wireless technology allows for faster installation and physical relocation without reconfiguration.

Airborne’s module provides competitive advantages to factory automation equipment manufacturers.

Industry Need for Wireless Capabilities

Data acquisition, factory automation, security and sensor industrial control equipment all work to help streamline the factory floor environment. Currently this equipment may or may not be wired into a central network that monitors productivity, maintenance needs and equipment conditions.

Factory equipment may frequently be relocated to optimize work floor on the factory floor. This usually necessitates rewiring, re-cabling and reconfiguring equipment each time it is moved. These expenses can be eliminated with the Airborne Embedded Wireless Device Server module.

Often productivity of a factory floor can be significantly improved when data is shared, issues prevented or remedied quickly. More manufacturers are realizing the advantages and are looking to add wireless capability to increase device connectivity with a WiFi (802.11) solution.

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