Technology
Rapid roaming technology for wireless industrial networks RAPID ROAMING PROVIDES MANY OF THE same advantages of 802.11r wireless at a much lower cost in areas where necessary infrastructure does not exist. An enhanced WIFI client monitors surroundings and prepares new possible access points (APs) connection opportunities before die-down and drop-off connection processes take place. Modern factories heavily rely on Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven processes in order to optimize every step of production. Often, the sensors used to collect data for AI were connected with slow cable-driven serial protocols with RS-232 cables or twisted pairs for RS-422/485. With the development of newer technologies, however, there has been a transition to Ethernet-based communication. Two main factors played a key role in this process: one, the price of Ethernet nodes went down with the advent of cheap microcontrollers that included fully integrated Ethernet communication hardware in one chipset, and two, sophisticated new sensors came to market that were not compatible with old serial buses.
Rapid roaming WIFI
IEEE 802.11R wireless roaming system diagram The trouble is that 802.11ac wireless communication extends only 100 meters, a distance normally not sufficient for reliable service and requiring multiple access points (AP) be installed to cover a large area of operation. A moving vehicle or robot needs to constantly switch over communication to the next strong signal access point. The best solution is the implementation of 802.11r across the infrastructure that manages the switch-over mechanism with below 50ms SOURCE: ANTAIRA
To solve these problems, WIFI communication has become a key technology to deliver metrics from sensors, providing freedom from cables and to allow unrestricted 3D movements by a client in motion such as a vehicle or robot.
SOURCE: ANTAIRA
A Rapid Roaming enhanced WIFI client monitors surroundings and prepares new access points (APs) before die-down and drop-off connection processes take place. Protocols are used to seek a new AP when communication is healthy, assuring throughput and faster transitions and switch times.
Infrastructure requirements for rapid roaming.
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transition. However, some areas of a factory or warehouse may not support 802.11r. In this situation, Antaira's new Rapid Roaming enhanced WIFI client is an ideal solution, as it monitors surroundings and prepares new possible access points (APs) connection opportunities before die-down and drop-off connection processes take place. Supported by the new Antaira ARS-7235-AC-T dual-radio industrial WAP, Rapid Roaming protocols seek a new AP when communication is still healthy, assuring superior throughput and faster transitions with below 150ms switch time.
IEEE 802.11R wireless roaming
Roaming has been a desired feature in wireless devices for decades. In 2002, the IEEE 802.11r standard was introduced and is still under heavy development with major fundamentals published in IEEE 802.11r-2008. The main goal of 802.11r was to hand over wireless connections between numerous APs along a client travel path without significant delay. It has been particularly important for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications where human conversation requires 50ms or better of transmission time to avoid undesired noticeable interruptions. The 802.11r standard allowed for speed with secure and seamless handoffs where authentication and Quality of Service (QoS) configurations were preconfigured ahead of switching to
in d u s t r ial et h er ne t b o o k
02.2022
