Industrial Communication Systems and Their Future Challenges: Next-Generation Ethernet, IIoT, and 5G

TLDR

Industrial communication systems are critical for factory and process automation, engineered for real‑time, deterministic, and reliable operation in harsh electromagnetic, mechanical, thermal, and humid environments, and have evolved over three decades with diverse network classes. This paper reviews the state of the art in fieldbuses, real‑time Ethernet, and industrial wireless, analyzes the complex standardization framework and market outlook, and then explores future directions in emerging technologies, standards, and application domains. The authors examine time‑sensitive networking, Industrial Internet‑of‑Things, high‑performance WLANs, cellular networks, and automotive Ethernet as key technologies shaping the next generation of industrial communication.

Abstract

Industrial communication systems represent one of the most important innovations of the last decades in the context of factory and process automation systems. They are networks specifically designed to cope with the tight requirements of these challenging application fields such as real time, determinism, and reliability. Moreover, industrial networks are often deployed in environments characterized by strong electromagnetic interference, mechanical stress, critical temperature, and humidity. Over the last three decades, different classes of industrial networks have been developed according to changing requirements and available communication and information technologies. In this paper, we first provide an account of the state of the art, reviewing classical fieldbuses, real-time Ethernet networks, and industrial wireless networks, along with their most relevant features, applications, and performance figures. We introduce the complex standardization framework and analyze the market status and assumptions for future development. In the second part, we address the future perspectives focusing on new technologies, standards, and fields of application. In particular, we consider the time-sensitive networking (TSN) family of standards, Industrial Internet-of-Things (IIoT) systems, high-performance wireless LANs, industrial applications of cellular networks, and Ethernet networks for automotive communication.