Under these trends, the field of industrial control is undergoing a revolutionary change, and the new generation of network architecture requires that the network communication between the device end and the edge computing node has the ability to provide large bandwidth, low delay and delay certainty, which are the native capabilities of 5G: In terms of flexible production, 5G network features such as low delay, high reliability, and strong security can support the wireless demands of OT network communication in flexible production scenarios. In terms of flat network architecture, 5G enables all kinds of industrial production equipment to carry out flat communication. At the same time, 5G network naturally provides the ability of a full-area network, combined with the layer 2 access capability of 5G LAN characteristics and the flexible allocation of network resources by 5G network slicing, which perfectly fits the development trend of flat integration of OT networks and IT networks in discrete manufacturing enterprises.

5G+PLC deep integration breaks the “soil resistance” of 5G landing industry

Industrial control is the core link of industrial production, and the deep integration of 5G+PLC will bring innovation to the manufacturing production mode and production form. With the continuous evolution of 5G technology, the introduction of R16 key features, and the reliable low delay capability of 5G make it possible for 5G to enable PLC control, that is, to support PLC southbound communication.

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It is reported that in the industrial manufacturing site, due to the closest to the underlying industrial equipment, the industrial control system software and hardware represented by PLC, usually appear as an important underlying control component application, to achieve the specific operation and process control of industrial equipment because it involves the precise coordination of many devices, so the delay control and error requirements are very high, which also makes for a long time, The connection between the control system and the acquisition unit is often wired, and the wireless network is not considered.

In the factory network, 5G is more widely used in the higher system layers of ERP, MES, and SCADA, but it rarely enters the more in-depth PLC control field. Although the wired connection provides a stable delay electrical signal for the PLC, because there are many production lines and machines in the factory, many PLCS are involved, and each production line adjustment, especially when the flexible manufacturing production line is adjusted, the wiring and program debugging workload is very large.

Based on this, the white paper from the initial analysis and research of industrial production lines to the full implementation of production to the end, provides a comprehensive 5G+PLC deeply integrated industrial production line solution, covering system architecture, 5G+PLC application scenario classification, 5G network planning/deployment/operation and maintenance and performance requirements and other levels of information.