Analysis of the IEEE 802.15.4 Standard for a Wireless Closed Loop Control System for Heavy Duty Cranes

In this paper the use of the IEEE 802.15.4 standard in a wireless control system is analyzed and discussed. The standard is described and applied on a heavy duty crane application and the discussion focuses on the possibilities and limitations of the standard in the application. A formula is presented which can be used to calculate maximum sample rate according to the number of sensor nodes and the payload the nodes may carry. The discussion reveals that the standard may be utilized in the crane application but that it is not a good solution. Several limitations within the standard, such as network size and system sample rate, will put a stop to future extensions of the wireless control system. As a result, the 802.15.4 standard protocol shall not be employed in the heavy duty crane application.