In the realm of industrial automation, a wireless revolution is currently underway, with shipments of devices for these applications skyrocketing on a global scale.
According to a recent report by IoT analyst firm Berg Insight, annual shipments crossed the 10.7 million mark in 2023, comprising about 9% of all new connected nodes.
This growth trajectory is expected to continue at a robust pace, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3%. By 2028, annual shipments are forecasted to reach 19.1 million, significantly bolstering the existing installed base of 56.5 million devices.
While wired solutions still hold sway in industrial communication between sensors, controllers, and systems, wireless technologies are steadily gaining ground. This shift is especially notable in scenarios where wired solutions prove impractical, inefficient, or cost-prohibitive, such as in hazardous areas or inaccessible locations.
Factory automation is embracing wireless solutions for connecting mobile industrial equipment, like automated guided vehicles, and facilitating remote access to machines for programming and servicing. Process automation, too, is increasingly tapping into wireless technologies for non-mission-critical applications, including remote process monitoring, optimization, and safety-enhancement measures.
Recognizing this trend, major industrial automation vendors, including ABB, Emerson, Hitachi, Honeywell, OMRON, Schneider Electric, Siemens, and Yokogawa, are beefing up their offerings of wireless field devices.
Among wireless technologies, Wi-Fi has emerged as a frontrunner in industrial settings due to the wide availability of compatible hardware. The industrial Wi-Fi device market boasts key players such as Siemens, Cisco, Belden, Moxa, Phoenix Contact, HMS Networks, and Advantech.
Following closely is WirelessHART, an 802.15.4-based protocol widely used for remote monitoring in process industries. Emerson, a leader in WirelessHART technology, boasts an installed base exceeding 10 million wireless pressure transmitters.
In the realm of cellular solutions, there’s a niche for data acquisition and backhaul communications within distributed automation applications. Prominent providers of cellular IoT gateways and routers for industrial environments include Semtech, Cisco, Digi International, Moxa, GE Vernova, HMS Networks, Robustel, InHand Networks, and Teltonika Networks. Notably, devices featuring Wi-Fi, WirelessHART, and cellular connectivity constituted 70% of the installed base in 2023.
AI in industrial automation
The integration of AI is further reshaping the industrial automation landscape.
“Partnerships and collaborations between industrial automation players and technology companies are increasingly centered on artificial intelligence,” states Veronika Barta, IoT Analyst at Berg Insight.
This AI focus is palpable in the formation of new partnerships and the expansion of existing collaborations throughout 2023-2024. For instance, ABB and Siemens have deepened their partnerships with Microsoft, focusing on generative AI applications for digital solutions.
Similarly, Schneider Electric and Siemens have teamed up with NVIDIA to drive the development and implementation of AI-powered industrial solutions. In June 2024, Rockwell Automation joined forces with NVIDIA to scale the use of AI in industrial mobile robots.
“More collaborations and partnerships can be expected in the coming years as solution providers turn to AI to optimize industrial processes,” Barta concludes.
(Photo by Ant Rozetsky on Unsplash)
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