The manufacturing automation field trial is supported by a RFieldbus hybrid network, with both wired and wireless/mobile communicating nodes. RFieldbus mobility requirements impose the use of wireless nodes, such as transportation vehicles. The manufacturing automation field trial also involves the use of wired segments, i.e. a hybrid wired/wireless fieldbus network. The interconnection of the different wired and wireless domains is achieved through the use of Link Stations, Base Stations and/or Link Base stations.

This structured wired/wireless network supporting mobility (RFieldbus network infrastructure) is composed of two link base stations (LBS1, LBS2) that interconnect the two wireless domains (WL1, WL2) and the wired segment (WR). All nodes are Profibus slaves (PC2-6, ET1-2 and MM1-2), except PC1 and Mobility Master, which are Profibus master stations. The Mobility Master is included in PC2. PC2 has 2 RFieldbus interface cards: one for PC2 standard traffic (RFieldbus slave) and one for the mobility master functionality.

WR - Wired Segment - Standard PROFIBUS Cable
WL1 - Wireless Segment (Main Area) - RFieldbus Radio
WL2 - Wireless Segment (Second Area) - RFieldbus Radio
DP Slave - Standard PROFIBUS DP Slave device
DP Slave TCP/IP - RFieldbus Slave with Multimedia support
Mobility Master - RFieldbus Mobility Master
LBS - Linking Base Station
LD - Linking Device
LD Mobile - Linking Device with mobility support (handoff)

Photos

On the Photos section of this website you may see pictures of:
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I/O Module 2 with PROFIBUS Cabling
MicroMaster Drive Units with PROFIBUS Cabling
PC2 Connections with PROFIBUS Cabling (including Mobility Master)
A Radio Link Device (can be programmed to be a LBS, a LD or a BS)
An AGV with RFieldbus Wireless Connection
The Remote Unload Station RFieldbus Link Device

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