LiFi as Enabler for Smart Manufacturing

Presentation by Daniel Behnke , Head of Global Digitalization/Corporate Factory IT & Technologies, Weidmüller Group (Invited Speaker).

Communication is the fundamental requirement for smart manufacturing.

Due to the rough environment and several other boundary conditions of smart manufacturing, such as flexible structures and movable machines, radio communication technologies are suffering due to the physical effects of fading, reflection, attenuation and range. Light Fidelity is an alternative to radio for wireless communications. It enables both, communications and positioning.

Specific requirements on communications systems need to be matched in modern manufacturing with a focus on industrial data. Scenarios for the application of LiFi for wireless and reliable network communications as well as for indoor positioning of an intelligent transport systems (ITS) will be introduced. Further, a system architecture for LiFi with 5G in smart manufacturing is developed and addresses the benefits of applying LiFi in these scenarios and the associated challenges.