Performance evaluation of wireless networked control system using time-triggered IEEE 802.15.4

This paper focuses on feasibility of the time-triggered IEEE 802.15.4 protocol to satisfy the network-based control systems(NCS) performance. The IEEE 802.15.4 protocol is considered to be unsuitable for industrial networks because its medium access control method is contention-based CSMA/CA, which exhibits unstable performance with an unbounded delay distribution under heavy traffic. To avoid these limitations, this paper presents a time-triggered version of the nonbeacon-enabled network of IEEE 802.15.4 that relies on a time division multiplexing access (TDMA) method implemented in the application layer without any modification of specification. This time-triggered IEEE 802.15.4 was implemented experimentally, and its control performance was compared with conventional IEEE 802.15.4 using NCS test bed. Based on the experimental results, the time-triggered IEEE 802.15.4 is a promising alternative for wireless industrial networking.