Wireless sensors, far more common in industry than in the world of consumers,
are reaching the industrial marketplace because of a combination of
technological and economic driving forces.
Technical Insights report separates the good news from the mundane by
providing the following:
- A detailed overview of technological advances in development laboratories
- Identification of key companies and developers and estimates of timelines
for commercializing technology
- Definitions of key markets and applications
- Reporting on technology drivers as well as obstacles in the way of
commercial success
- A detailed list of key contacts in the field, including names, titles,
addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and URLs
These sensors, with control and command signals operated by radio frequency
waves, are becoming increasingly popular on factory floors and among key sensor
development companies.
"The merging of wireless communications and sensors is a monumental step
for both of these technologies," says Technical Insights analyst James P.
Smith. "The growth of the personal communications market is driving the
cost of radio frequency devices down and quality levels up."
The expenses associated with installing, terminating, testing, maintaining,
troubleshooting, and upgrading wiring is also growing. With wire in some
specialized installations approaching $2000 per foot, the appeal of wireless
systems is obvious.
Though wireless sensors offer distinct solutions, many engineers are not yet
convinced that they will be reliable in the factory floor environment.
Generally, when a wireless sensor network is designed for a real-world
application, engineers tend to support a proven product, although it may have
limitations.
"Customer acceptance of wireless technology, led by the wireless
telephone market, is likely to spread to industry similar to the way industrial
clients have accepted the personal computer," says Smith. "Trends are
already evident that encourage increased use of sensors, software, and controls
to bolster a company's competitive advantage."
Although their applications are likely to become far more widespread,
wireless sensors currently depend on applications in which wiring is impossible
to install, too expensive, or where operating and support costs are
prohibitively high. These include environments where sealed compartments are
required.
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