A packet radio network for industrial control applications

The authors describe PACNET, a packet radio network that was developed locally to provide low-duty-cycle communications between remote terminal units (RTUs), with the ability to route packets through more than one RTU and to provide for centralized control. They describe the packet switches, the protocol implementation, and the design of the RTUs. They discuss the implementation of an experimental network and its use for the monitoring and control of a rural power system.