Wireless systems for machinery safety

Ever since the introduction of the new machinery directive MRL2006/42/EG, the manufacturers of mechatronic devices are forced to only produce safe machinery and prove their safety with a Safety Analysis. In general, only safe machinery may be introduced on the European market. The ongoing transition to a flexible manufacturing process, mainly in the context of Industry 4.0, is leading to new communication strategies, including wireless communication for different purposes. This paper discusses the suitability of wireless communication for safe industrial systems and under what circumstances a wireless solution may beat conventional wire-based communication.