Brendan O’Dowd， General Manager， Industrial Automation

Brendan O’Dowd，工業(yè)自動化總經(jīng)理

Until the launch of 5G， every previous generation of mobile phone technology was primarily intended to improve the operation of the handset. First-generation mobile phone networks were analog systems that provided just enough bandwidth for voice calls. Introduced in the early 1990s， 2G was the first digital mobile technology， while 3G in the late 1990s made it possible for handsets to carry email messages and provide rudimentary access to web pages.

在5G問世之前，每一代手機技術(shù)的主要目的都是改善手機運行。第一代手機網(wǎng)絡屬于模擬系統(tǒng)，帶寬僅夠語音通話使用。2G是首個數(shù)字移動技術(shù)，于20世紀90年代早期問世；3G于20世紀90年代晚期問世，允許手機傳輸電子郵件信息，并提供對網(wǎng)頁的基本訪問。

It was not until the adoption of 4G technology in 2008 that real smartphone capability was enabled： 4G mobile broadband led to the development of smartphone apps， the proliferation of multimedia and streaming services， and access to high speed internet on-the-go.

直到2008年采用4G技術(shù)，智能手機功能才真正實現(xiàn)：以4G移動寬帶為基礎，開發(fā)出智能手機應用、多媒體和流傳輸服務，且可以隨時訪問高速互聯(lián)網(wǎng)。

The recent installation of 5G networks marks the first time that a new generation of mobile technology has been built around the needs of machines and systems rather than handset users. The telecommunications industry’s plan for 5G envisaged technical breakthroughs in three main parameters：

最近安裝的5G網(wǎng)絡標志著新一代的移動技術(shù)首次以設備和系統(tǒng)需求為核心，而不是手機用戶。電信行業(yè)的5G計劃設想在三個主要參數(shù)上實現(xiàn)技術(shù)突破：

• Latency， reliability， and determinism
• 延遲、可靠性和確定性
• Connection density
• 連接密度
• Bandwidth and the speed of data transfer
• 帶寬和數(shù)據(jù)傳輸速度

The reason for enhancing performance in these parameters was to enable real-time monitoring and control of dense concentrations of devices communicating concurrently. In a smart city scenario， for instance， 5G is expected to enable real-time information about the location of available on-street parking spaces to be displayed in the navigation system of cars in the vicinity. Such a smart parking system will require the simultaneous connection of thousands of proximity sensors or cameras and thousands of cars in a small area， continually transferring real-time data about space availability and location.

之所以提高這些參數(shù)的性能，是為了實時監(jiān)測和控制同時通信的設備的密集程度。例如，在智慧城市場景中，我們期望5G能夠?qū)崟r提供街邊空余停車位的位置信息，并顯示在附近的車輛的導航系統(tǒng)中。這樣的智能停車系統(tǒng)需要同時連接小范圍內(nèi)的數(shù)千個接近傳感器或攝像頭以及小范圍內(nèi)的數(shù)千輛汽車，不斷傳輸關(guān)于空余停車位及其位置的實時數(shù)據(jù)。

The requirement of this and other applications for latency， density， and bandwidth is met by three technology enhancements embodied in the 5G standard specifications：

該應用和其他應用對延遲、密度和帶寬的要求通過5G標準規(guī)范中的三項技術(shù)改進來滿足：

• Ultra-reliable low latency communication （URLLC） for real time-control systems
• 實時控制系統(tǒng)的超可靠低延遲通信（URLLC）
• Enhanced mobile broadband （eMBB） to support new bandwidth-dependent use cases， including augmented and virtual reality
• 增強型移動寬帶（eMBB），用于支持基于帶寬的新用例，包括增強現(xiàn)實和虛擬顯示現(xiàn)實
• Enhanced/massive machine type communications （eMTC） for low power， wide area wireless networking
• 面向低功率、廣域無線網(wǎng)絡的增強/大型機械式機器類通信（eMTC）

These 5G technology features make it capable of supporting the requirements of factory control systems for real-time determinism and six nines （99.9999%） availability. Yet the real-world experience of most mobile handset users accessing 2G， 3G， or 4G networks still involves black spots where coverage is weak or nonexistent， and of occasional and unpredictable dropped connections.

這些5G技術(shù)特性使其能夠支持工廠控制系統(tǒng)對實時確定性和六九（99.9999%）可用性的要求。但是，在現(xiàn)實生活中，大多數(shù)手機用戶在訪問2G、3G或4G網(wǎng)絡時，仍然會遇到黑點（網(wǎng)絡覆蓋較弱或不存在），偶爾還會發(fā)生意外掉線。

So is there a realistic prospect that mobile phone technology will be used to connect mission-critical， time-sensitive industrial machines？

那么，使用手機技術(shù)來連接任務關(guān)鍵型且對時間敏感的工業(yè)設備是否有前景？

Replacement of the Mature 4 mA to 20 mA Technology

替代成熟的4 mA至20 mA技術(shù)

For all the hype around state-of-the-art 5G technology， the reality is that most process equipment installations today include a provision for control via mature wired 4 mA to 20 mA links—a proven， dependable technology that dates back to the 1950s. This speaks to industry’s need for certainty and the avoidance of risk when implementing mission- or safety-critical control systems.

盡管圍繞先進的5G技術(shù)進行了大肆宣傳，但現(xiàn)實情況是，如今的大部分工藝設備裝置都通過成熟的有線4 mA至20 mA鏈接實施控制，這是20世紀50年代推出的技術(shù)，久經(jīng)考驗。這說明行業(yè)在執(zhí)行任務關(guān)鍵型或安全關(guān)鍵型控制系統(tǒng)時，需要保證確定性，規(guī)避風險。

But the tides of change cannot be beaten back forever， and innovations in the way factories operate give control system designers good reason to evaluate alternatives to 4 mA to 20 mA technology. As Industry 4.0 and other global phenomena accelerate the pace at which factory operations evolve， two trends are driving the introduction of new networking technologies： the introduction of autonomous mobile machinery and the development of more flexible manufacturing facilities to meet growing consumer demand for personalized or configured products.

但是，改革浪潮無法阻擋，隨著工廠運營的方式不斷創(chuàng)新，控制系統(tǒng)設計人員開始評估可以替代4 mA至20 mA技術(shù)的技術(shù)。隨著工業(yè)4.0和全球局勢迫使工廠不斷改變運營方式，兩種趨勢迫切需要新的網(wǎng)絡技術(shù)：引入自動移動設備；開發(fā)更靈活的制造設備以滿足消費者對個性化或配置產(chǎn)品不斷增長的需求。

In factory and warehouse settings， the use of autonomous guided vehicles （AGVs）， cobots， and other types of autonomous mobile devices offer an effective way to increase efficiency and productivity. As automated equipment takes on the burden of performing repetitive and mundane tasks， workers are freed to transfer to higher value and more interesting factory operations that machines cannot perform.

工廠和倉庫環(huán)境中會使用無人搬運車（AGV）、協(xié)作機器人和其他類型的自主移動設備，以便快速提高效率和生產(chǎn)力。隨著自動化設備接手執(zhí)行單調(diào)的重復性任務，工人可以轉(zhuǎn)而執(zhí)行價值更高、更有趣且機器無法執(zhí)行的工廠操作。

The new generation of autonomous mobile devices such as AGVs requires a wireless communications connection that offers low latency for real-time control， high bandwidth to carry the signals from multiple sensors such as LIDAR scanners and video cameras， and high immunity to interference—the hallmarks of 5G mobile networks.

新一代自主移動設備（例如AGV）需要低延遲無線通信網(wǎng)絡連接來提供實時控制，需要高帶寬來傳輸來自多個傳感器（例如LIDAR掃描儀和攝像機）的信號，且需要高抗擾度——這是5G移動網(wǎng)絡的特點。

When factory operators replace wired with wireless connections， they also gain the flexibility to quickly reconfigure factory equipment to meet new or varied demands from consumers. The rise of e-commerce raised expectations from consumers for near-instant delivery of ordered products and for the ability to choose from a wider range of product options than ever before. The ability to move production or process equipment more quickly and easily is growing in value. A fixed， wired communications infrastructure is less flexible than a wireless network to which equipment can connect from any location. Wireless networks also reduce the cost， inconvenience， and technical difficulty involved in installing communications cabling.

工廠運營商將有線連接替換為無線連接之后，也獲得了靈活性，可以快速重新配置工廠設備，以滿足消費者的新需求。電子商務的興起拔高了消費者的期望，他們希望購買的商品能夠近乎即時送達，且可挑選的商品名錄比以往更廣泛。更快速、更輕松地移動生產(chǎn)或工藝設備，這種能力也在不斷升值。固定的有線通信基礎設施不如無線網(wǎng)絡靈活，后者支持從任意位置連接設備。無線網(wǎng)絡減少了安裝通信電纜時的成本、麻煩和技術(shù)難度。

Over the long-term， then， factory operators are open to the benefits of wireless control capability alongside established wired communications technologies. In the immediate future， however， industry must prioritize its most important requirements， which are：

因此長遠來看，在成熟的有線通信技術(shù)之外，工廠運營商樂于接受無線控制網(wǎng)絡帶來的好處。但是，在不久的將來，行業(yè)會優(yōu)先考慮對其而言最重要的要求，包括：

• High reliability and availability
• 高可靠性和可用性
• Security
• 安全性
• Robustness to cope with challenging industrial operating conditions
• 應對挑戰(zhàn)性工業(yè)操作條件的耐用性
• Ultralow latency
• 超低延遲

These factors underlie the longevity of the 4 mA to 20 mA standard for factory communications. And while factory operators are looking to replace 4 mA to 20 mA technology， their focus today is on the implementation of the time sensitive networking （TSN） standard for wired Industrial Ethernet communications， rather than for anything wireless.

這些因素決定了4 mA至20 mA工廠通信標準的使用期限。雖然工廠運營商希望替換4 mA至20 mA技術(shù)，但現(xiàn)在，他們傾向于面向有線工業(yè)以太網(wǎng)通信的時間敏感性網(wǎng)絡（TSN）標準，而不是無線技術(shù)。

TSN has emerged as the preferred standard for high bandwidth， wired data communications in the factory， since it offers the ideal combination of reliability， robustness， a high data transfer rate， low latency measured in microseconds， and easy integration with enterprise IT network systems.

TSN已成為工廠高帶寬有線數(shù)據(jù)通信的首選標準，因為它兼具可靠性、耐用性、高數(shù)據(jù)傳輸速率、低延遲（以微秒為測量單位），且易于與企業(yè)IT網(wǎng)絡系統(tǒng)集成。

And because the TSN specification is a standard benefiting from cross-industry support， it is rapidly developing a rich ecosystem of suppliers of TSN components and systems， which includes Analog Devices.

TSN規(guī)范是一項得到跨行業(yè)支持的標準，所以它快速建立了豐富的TSN組件和系統(tǒng)供應商生態(tài)系統(tǒng)，也包ADI公司含在內(nèi)。

OpenRAN： Non-Public Networks Enable the Validation of Claims Made for 5G Performance

OpenRAN：非公共網(wǎng)絡支持驗證關(guān)于5G性能的言論

Alongside the implementation of TSN networks， the scope for enhancing factory operations through the implementation of wireless networking is also coming under active evaluation. Some early adopters in the industrial community have already begun the work of testing， validating， and evaluating the operation of 5G networking systems inside the factory， while concurrently replacing legacy 4 mA to 20 mA systems with new TSN Ethernet networks. This validation process will find the most suitable applications for 5G technology.

除了推行TSN網(wǎng)絡外，我們也在積極評估通過采用無線網(wǎng)絡來改善工廠運營的范圍。工業(yè)領(lǐng)域的一些早期采用者已開始測試、驗證和評估工廠內(nèi)5G網(wǎng)絡系統(tǒng)的運行效果，同時使用新推出的TSN以太網(wǎng)網(wǎng)絡來替換傳統(tǒng)的4 mA至20 mA系統(tǒng)。這一驗證過程將找到最合適的5G技術(shù)應用。

So factory operators are now starting to test the innovative features of the 5G specification， such as massive MIMO capability—the use of arrays of antennas to provide multiple physical transmission paths between a transmitter and receiver. An array may be configured to form multi-antenna beams transmitting to multiple receivers. This allows the implementation of techniques such as channel hardening， beamforming， rapid channel estimation， and antenna （spatial） diversity， the effects of which are to dramatically improve reliability and reduce latency compared to 4G mobile networking.

工廠運營商現(xiàn)在已開始測試5G技術(shù)的創(chuàng)新特性，例如大規(guī)模MIMO功能——使用天線陣列在發(fā)射器和接收器之間提供多條物理傳輸路徑。陣列可以配置為形成多個天線波束，以發(fā)送至多個接收器。這樣就可以采用信道加固、波束成型、快速信道評估和天線（空間）分集等技術(shù)，與使用4G移動網(wǎng)絡相比，可以顯著提高可靠性和降低延遲。

Indeed， one of the aims of the developers of the 5G standard was to enable wireless networks to achieve six nines reliability for packet delivery， comparable to that of a wired Ethernet network， and equivalent to a packet error ratio of 1:1，000，000. Latency of just 1 ms is also possible， which is well within the limit imposed by many industrial control applications.

事實上，5G標準開發(fā)人員的目標之一是使無線網(wǎng)絡在數(shù)據(jù)包傳輸方面達到99.9999%的可靠性，與有線以太網(wǎng)的可靠性相當，相當于數(shù)據(jù)包的錯誤率為1:1，000，000。延遲達到1 ms也是可期的，完全符合許多工業(yè)控制應用的要求。

The question is， can this performance be achieved in the real-world conditions experienced inside a factory， where communications equipment might be subject to multiple sources of high amplitude radio frequency interference， transient voltage events， high temperatures， and other disturbances？

但在真實工廠環(huán)境中，通信設備可能受到多個高振幅射頻干擾源、瞬態(tài)電壓事件、高溫和其他干擾的影響，這種性能能否實現(xiàn)？

In validating the real-world performance of a 5G installation， factory system designers have a choice： they can， of course， take advantage of 5G coverage provided by mobile network service providers. But the 5G standard also makes provision for the implementation of private systems， or so-called non-public networks （NPNs） that cover， for example， an industrial campus or a large factory complex. Different industrial users and use cases will favor a different choice of public or private network.

在驗證5G設備的真實性能時，工廠系統(tǒng)設計人員有一個選擇：利用移動網(wǎng)絡服務提供商提供的5G覆蓋。但是，5G標準也為實施私有系統(tǒng)或所謂的非公開網(wǎng)絡（NPN）做了規(guī)定，例如覆蓋工業(yè)園區(qū)或大型工廠的網(wǎng)絡。不同的工業(yè)用戶和用例會選擇不同的公共網(wǎng)絡或?qū)Ｓ镁W(wǎng)絡。

The implementation of 5G networking in the factory is also facilitated by developments from mobile network operators of the OpenRAN （Open Radio Access Network） specification. This has opened the market for 5G radio and core equipment to a broader range of suppliers in addition to those which traditionally served the telecoms equipment market. This has the potential to broaden the choice of equipment available to meet the needs of use cases different from those of mass-market public network operators and to encourage the development of 5G products by suppliers that are focused on the industrial market.

移動網(wǎng)絡運營商制定OpenRAN（開放式無線接入網(wǎng)絡）規(guī)范，這也推動了工廠的5G網(wǎng)絡部署。除了傳統(tǒng)服務于電信設備市場的提供商之外，更多供應商即將進入5G射頻和核心設備市場。這有可能擴大可用設備的選擇范圍，滿足與大眾市場公共網(wǎng)絡運營商不同的用例，鼓勵工業(yè)市場供應商開發(fā)5G產(chǎn)品。

As a supplier of physical layer components and protocol software to manufacturers both of TSN equipment and of 5G infrastructure， Analog Devices is ideally placed to assess the prospects of each technology for implementation in industrial control systems. While the immediate future belongs to wired Industrial Ethernet technology， it is easy to imagine a future where AGVs and robots inside the factory transmit and receive time- and mission-critical data payloads via a 5G network—and the availability of 5G network coverage means that this is an actual rather than a theoretical possibility today.

作為為TSN設備和5G基礎設施制造商提供物理層組件和協(xié)議軟件的供應商，ADI公司可以公正地評估用于實施工業(yè)控制系統(tǒng)的各種技術(shù)。雖然當下有線工業(yè)以太網(wǎng)技術(shù)仍占主導，但可以想象，未來工廠內(nèi)的AGV和機器人將通過5G網(wǎng)絡發(fā)送和接收時間關(guān)鍵型和任務關(guān)鍵型數(shù)據(jù)負載——5G網(wǎng)絡的覆蓋意味著這一夢想已經(jīng)成為現(xiàn)實，不再是理論上的可能性。

About the Author

作者簡介

Brendan O’Dowd has over 30 years of experience in the industry working for companies like Tellabs， Apple， and Analog Devices. He is currently the general manager of Analog Devices’ industrial automation business. He can be reached at [email protected].

Brendan O’Dowd擁有30多年的工業(yè)行業(yè)經(jīng)驗，他曾就職于Tellabs、Apple和ADI公司。他目前擔任ADI公司工業(yè)自動化業(yè)務部總經(jīng)理。