The future of industrial communication: Automation networks in the Era of the internet of things and industry 4.0
Abstract
With the introduction of the Internet of Things (IoT) and cyber-physical system (CPS) concepts in industrial application scenarios, industrial automation is undergoing a tremendous change. This is made possible in part by recent advances in technology that allow interconnection on a wider and more fine-grained scale. The purpose of this article is to review technological trends and the impact they may have on industrial communication. We will review the impact of IoT and CPSs on industrial automation from an industry 4.0 perspective, give a survey of the current state of work on Ethernet time-sensitive networking (TSN), and shed light on the role of fifth-generation (5G) telecom networks in automation. Moreover, we will point out the need for harmonization beyond networking.
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Ethernet is the prevalent trend for IT, IoT-enabled equipment, and modern automation systems.
“Using an Ethernet network facilitates the replacement or addition of devices [53], especially given the fact that this kind of network is the prevalent trend for Information Technology (IT), IoT-enabled equipment, and modern automation systems [54].”
From Innovative Multi-Layered Architecture for Heterogeneous Automation and Monitoring Systems: Application Case of a Photovoltaic Smart Microgrid (2021) · cites this paper as [54]
In Ethereum, currently every single node must process every single transaction that goes through the network.
“In the case of Ethereum, currently every single node must process every single transaction that goes through the network [161].”
From A Review on the Application of Blockchain to the Next Generation of Cybersecure Industry 4.0 Smart Factories (2019) · cites this paper as [161]
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- Authors
- Wollschlaeger, M., Sauter, T., & Jasperneite, J.
- Affiliations
- Technische Universität Dresden (DE)
- TU Wien (AT)
- Venue
- IEEE Industrial Electronics Magazine
- Published
- 2017-03
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 17-27
- ISSN
- 1932-4529 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2599557761
- Cited by
- 1,726
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 95 · 2025: 127 · 2024: 143 · 2023: 185 · 2022: 199 · 2021: 268 · 2020: 257 · 2019: 266 · 2018: 145 · 2017: 37 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 128.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- IEEE Industrial Electronics Magazine (publishedVersion)
- Publikationsdatenbank der Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft) (submittedVersion)
- Fraunhofer-Publica (Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Networks and Communications › Network Time Synchronization Technologies
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering › Digital Transformation in Industry
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Control and Systems Engineering › Industrial Automation and Control Systems
- Keywords
- industrial communication, Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, cyber-physical systems, industrial automation, 5G, industrial networks, standardization
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