Plug-and-play sensors in wireless networks

The availability of these self-configuring networks of wireless sensor data will accelerate the ongoing trend toward automation ranging from the factory floor to the office to the warehouse and outdoors. Lower installation costs, lower operating costs, and the improved factory efficiency will provide significant cost savings. Technicians will be able to walk near a machine and obtain data on its existing state and its history, enabling better monitoring of the equipment condition and avoiding expensive downtime. Open standards like Bluetooth and IEEE 1451 are key to supporting the proliferation of these technologies.