Optimizing Wireless Networks for Automated Guided Vehicles and Remote-Control Systems in Smart Factory

Remote-Control and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are vital applications of smart factories in context of Industry 4.0 Revolution, necessitating flexibility in mobility and movement within their operational environments. Wired networks like Ethernet fulfill a significant proportion of the requirements of these applications regarding high reliability and minimal latency; nevertheless, they do not address the mobility requirements of these applications. Wireless networks, such as Wi-Fi, are considered appropriate for fulfilling the mobility demands of these applications; however, they may fall short of meeting all requirements due to the complex nature of the wireless network environment related to various performance-affecting factors like industrial noise. This paper is deep dive the ability of several Wi-Fi technology versions to attain high reliability and minimal latency for these applications in comparison of ethernet technology through multiple scenarios which executed in the OMNeT++ environment. As obtained results that the versions IEEE 802.11a, b, and g have been failed to achieve applications demands, Conversely, the IEEE 802.11ac version fulfilled all the requirements of both applications, 100% of RDR and delay below 1 ms due to its superior specifications and higher data rate. Finally, the impact of industrial noise on the efficacy of IEEE 802.11 ac with enhancement suggestion by increasing the transmission power of the applications to fully meet of their requirements have been examined in this work.