NeTWorK TesTs PaVe Way For sMarT FacTorIes INdusTry 4.0/sMarT FacTorIes
latency, network synchronisation and industrial ethernet network integration are expected from release 16, which the 5G automotive association (5Gaa) and the 5G alliance for connected Industries and automation (5G-acIa) have played a strong role in shaping. The release helps 5G evolve into a technology suitable to meet smart factory requirements (Industry 4.0). These requirements are characterised by data driven real-time control of all processes and the quick and flexible reconfiguration of production lines. Full connectivity of machines, people, plants, logistics and products is only feasible with wireless technology. Fast wireless 5G based links will be the nervous system coordinating the complex factory structure. even a brief data flow interruption can have serious consequences and high costs, meaning the wireless network must be designed, set up and monitored with great care. The process requires several phases (including testing), as described below.
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VitAl KPiS foR mobile netwoRKS in wiReleSS connected fActoRieS a smart factory is a critical environment that must fulfill strict requirements for machine connectivity and reliability as well as data security and human safety, especially if connectivity is provided by wireless technologies. redundancy is a proven way to increase
reliability. every location in a smart factory must be served by at least four wireless access points. on-site tests are the only way to verify this access, not only upon installation but after every machinery reconfiguration or change to the building layout, since structural changes can impact the propagation conditions of radio waves. reliable ubiquitous wireless accessibility is
necessary but not sufficient for trouble-free operation. another requirement is the proper performance measured not only in achievable data throughput but also – and often more importantly – latency or the time needed for a signal to pass through the system. The latencies of previous mobile communications technologies, up to and including 4G, were not short enough to meet real-time control requirements. This is no longer true for 5G, which has latencies of a few milliseconds.
GPP release 15 standardised 5G technology and is the basis for current 5G networks. significant improvements in
5G has everything future smart factories need for wireless connectivity, but network tests are essential, as Arnd Sibila, Rohde & Schwarz, explains... Latency comes in two forms: round-trip and
one-way (Fig. 1). augmented or virtual reality use cases need short round-trip latency for very quick image content updates when people wearing ar/Vr glasses move their head, to keep the merged data consistent with the live image. by contrast, real-time control of a connected machine requires low one-way latency. control commands, for example a stop command for a robot, must lead to immediate action.
the fiVe PhASeS of netwoRK teStinG When planning a factory as a whole, wireless networks are implemented in phases based on a five-phase test plan. Fig. 2 shows the first four phases for verifying that the network fulfills strict reliability and performance requirements.
PHase 1: roLLouT PreParaTIoN
In Germany and some other countries, 5G frequencies are reserved for campus networks or private networks and factory operators can apply to use these frequencies. setup and operation of the network can be organised inhouse, but is usually done by service providers. In countries without dedicated campus frequencies, factory connectivity involves booking resources from a major network operator, who in turn consolidates their network around the factory or installs additional base stations in the factory to meet requirements. If the network uses campus frequency bands,
Fig. 1: The one-way latency is the signal delay from the transmitter to the receiver (top image), while the round-trip latency includes the response time of the receiver and the return delay.
the spectrum needs an initial check for interference. experience shows that this cannot be taken for granted with a newly assigned and previously unused spectrum. r&s TsMx6 network scanners, r&s FPH / r&s FsH handheld spectrum analysers and r&s MNT100 / r&s Pr200 portable test receivers perform the necessary measurements.
PHase 2: sITe accePTaNce TesTING
The second phase involves testing and validating newly deployed base stations. This includes simple functional tests such as download/upload tests, round-trip latency measurements, over-the-air (oTa) rF spectrum analyses and signal decoding to verify PcI, ssb and sIb data for 5G and LTe anchor signals. signal decoding also helps
troubleshooting specific parameters in case of problems or unexpected results. The rohde & schwarz product portfolio
has the right instruments for these tasks. QualiPoc android, a smartphone based measurement software, evaluates the mobile network service from the user perspective with functional tests (dL, uL, ping/TWaMP). The r&s spectrum rider FPH handheld spectrum analyser is ideal for oTa spectrum measurements, while the r&s 5G site testing solution provides a comprehensive mobile network situational overview that allows quick identification of any weaknesses or problem areas.
Fig. 2: Network test phases 1 to 4 – from rollout preparation to 24/7 service quality monitoring.
10 deceMber/JaNuary 2022 | FacTory&HaNdLINGsoLuTIoNs
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