Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Characterization in Factory Infrastructures

In recent years, industrial wireless applications have emerged rapidly. The use of short-range radio communication systems in factories increases the flexibility in industrial processes by reducing the use of cables. However, the technological challenges involved in wireless communication in industrial environments are not trivial; they result in disadvantages with respect to reliability and security because of electromagnetic interference. To gain an understanding of the performance limits of these wireless applications, knowing the characteristics of these environments is essential. In this approach, amplitude probability distribution and rms delay spread measurements have been used to perform electromagnetic site surveys in three factory automation infrastructures.