Industrial networks used to have a fairly contained job: connect a few controllers, operator stations and plant systems, then keep them running for years.
That model is changing quickly. A production floor may now include collaborative robots, machine-vision cameras, automated guided vehicles, connected tooling, industrial PCs and cloud-connected analytics platforms – all producing and consuming data at the same time.
For robotics and automation teams, that makes network planning an operational issue rather than a back-office IT task. A short interruption can halt a cell, delay diagnostics or leave engineers without the information they need to make a sound decision. [Read more…] about Building Networks That Can Keep Up With Modern Automation