Advancements in Wireless Technologies for IIoT

Abstract

enhancements and mechanisms are needed to push determinism deeper into the application layer and across multi-domain paths.The integration of 5G, TSN, and Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) is not yet fully mature, with ongoing standardisation work in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.1/InternationalElectrotechnical Commission (IEC) TSN profiles, and OPC UA companion specifications.Open questions concern the best approaches to interfacing, security, and maintenance of unified Quality of Service (QoS) models across these standards.Automation of 5G architecture, including automatic service provisioning, resource allocation, and self-organisation for industrial use cases, requires further research to translate into reliable production-grade solutions.While Non-Public Networks (NPNs) present a viable path for industry, there is a need to strengthen deployment models, security frameworks, performance guarantees, and mobility handling to better support industrial requirements in both brownfield and greenfield settings.Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) and Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) hold promise for enhanced coverage and reliability in Non-Line-of-Sight (NLoS) dominated factory environments.However, RIS modelling, near-field effects, phase-shift constraints, and joint optimisation of transmitters (Txs) and RIS elements require further theoretical and experimental work.Security requirements for industrial deployments must be harmonised with 5G security concepts and IEC 62443-like frameworks.A comprehensive integration concept is needed to avoid ad hoc security implementations during deployment.Many industrial components need specialised, low-energy, or reduced-capability devices, and there is a lag in the availability of commercially mature components that support deterministic communication at scale.3GPP release-17 improvements are progressing, but practical availability remains a constraint.Moreover, there is a notable gap between industrial requirements and real-world validation.Performance testing across multiple industrial use cases, parametric analyses of 5G core and Radio Access Network (RAN) configurations, and E2E 5G-integrated TSN evaluations are needed.While some of the challenges are listed for the use of 5G in industrial environments, the combined use of 5G enabling technologies, non-public network variants, edge computing, and integration with TSN and OPC UA constitutes a promising toolkit for achieving ubiquitous, wireless industrial communication.This toolkit can enable flexible, scalable, and robust industrial automation scenarios.This book chapter discusses the current trends and State-of-the-Art (SOA) play in research and practical applications on the use of wireless technologies in general but 5G in particular for industrial settings. Factory Propagation Channel Characterisation and Modelling Millimetre-wave Propagation in Industrial EnvironmentsCharacterisation of 60 GHz millimetre-wave spectrum propagation for highrate, low-latency wireless communication in challenging industrial environments