The industrial automation sector is experiencing a wireless revolution, with shipments of devices for these applications surging globally.
A new report from IoT analyst firm Berg Insight reveals that annual shipments hit 10.7 million units in 2023, representing approximately 9% of all new connected nodes.
This growth is projected to continue at a substantial pace, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3% predicted. By 2028, annual shipments are expected to reach 19.1 million, significantly expanding the current installed base of 56.5 million devices.
While wired solutions remain dominant in industrial communication between sensors, controllers, and systems, wireless technologies are gaining significant traction. This is particularly evident in environments where wired solutions are impractical, ineffective, or prohibitively expensive, such as hazardous areas or locations with limited accessibility.
Factory automation is witnessing the widespread adoption of wireless solutions for connecting mobile industrial equipment, including automated guided vehicles, and for enabling remote access to machines for programming and servicing.
Similarly, process automation is increasingly leveraging wireless technologies for non-mission-critical applications. These include remote process monitoring and optimisation, alongside applications focused on enhancing worker safety.
Major industrial automation vendors have recognised this trend, with companies like ABB, Emerson, Hitachi, Honeywell, OMRON, Schneider Electric, Siemens, and Yokogawa offering a growing array of wireless field devices.
Wi-Fi has emerged as the leading wireless technology in industrial settings, primarily due to the widespread availability of compatible hardware. Key players in the industrial Wi-Fi device market include Siemens, Cisco, Belden, Moxa, Phoenix Contact, HMS Networks, and Advantech.
Following closely behind is WirelessHART, an 802.15.4-based protocol widely adopted for remote monitoring applications in process industries. Emerson, a pioneer in WirelessHART technology, boasts an installed base exceeding 10 million wireless pressure transmitters.
Cellular solutions are finding their niche in data acquisition and backhaul communications within distributed automation applications. Leading providers of cellular IoT gateways and routers for industrial environments include Semtech, Cisco, Digi International, Moxa, GE Vernova, HMS Networks, Robustel, InHand Networks, and Teltonika Networks. Notably, devices incorporating Wi-Fi, WirelessHART, and cellular connectivity constitute 70% of the installed base in 2023.
AI in industrial automation
The integration of AI is further shaping the landscape of industrial automation.
“Partnerships and collaborations between industrial automation players and technology companies are increasingly focused on artificial intelligence,” said Veronika Barta, IoT Analyst at Berg Insight.
This focus on AI has been evident in both the formation of new partnerships and the expansion of existing collaborations throughout 2023-2024. For example, ABB and Siemens have both deepened their partnerships with Microsoft, with a specific emphasis on generative AI applications for digital solutions.
Similarly, Schneider Electric and Siemens have partnered with NVIDIA to drive the development and implementation of AI-powered industrial solutions. In June 2024, Rockwell Automation joined forces with NVIDIA in a move aimed at scaling the use of AI in industrial mobile robots.
“More collaborations and partnerships can be expected in the coming years as solution providers bet on AI to optimise industrial processes,” concludes Barta.
(Photo by Ant Rozetsky on Unsplash)
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